Describing Luke Mackin, 20, as "a truly unique young man", his family said: "Always smiling, once seen never forgotten. He is kind, caring, loyal and loved by many.
"He worked hard and played hard. No challenge was too great. He loved the sea and had a passion for extreme sports. Luke was head chef at Pizza Patio in Newlyn where he found his true vocation.
"He touched the hearts of his family and friends. Life will never be the same without him."
Mr Mackin went missing in the early hours of Saturday morning when the off-duty taxi he was travelling in with three friends plummeted through a bridge into a raging river, swollen by torrential rain.
Ryan Martel, 26, and his sister Frankie Chappel, 17, were also swept away when the car came to grief outside Zennor, near St Ives in West Cornwall.
The taxi was found 100 yards downstream. Mr Mackin's body was found on Saturday and Mr Martel's was recovered on Sunday. Miss Chapell is still missing.
The mother of the brother and sister said her family were "absolutely devastated" by their loss and described her children as "both so full of fun and loved by us all".
A fourth man, Oliver Gardner, was also in the car but survived the tragedy
article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS