Family pays tribute to ‘larger than life’ personal trainer found dead in Cheshire reservoir
The family of a man whose body was recovered from a reservoir have said he was “our world” as they paid tribute to him.
The body of Simon Daniels from Cheshire was found by a police underwater search team at Dovestone Reservoir at 6.15pm on Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police said.
A large initial search operation began at the reservoir after reports that two people had got into difficulty in the water while paddleboarding, and only one had been rescued and taken to hospital.
Emergency services, including the coastguard and mountain rescue, participated in the operation.
A spokesperson from Daniels’ family said he had “the power to bring everyone together.”
They said: “Simon is our world, he’s funny, unpredictable and has a heart as big as an ocean. His larger than life and his crazy personality lit up every room and his love, kindness and inspiration touched so many people who he met.
“Simon was a friend to everyone, nobody was a stranger in his eyes. His passions were fitness and the gym and helping others to become the best version of themselves.
“His heart was pure and he was unapologetically himself. Funny doesn’t cut it. He was hilarious. He had this power to bring everyone together. He just wanted everyone to be friends.”
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The spokesperson continued: “He loved life and even at the darkest of times he still managed to light up the room. The community have also shown how much they loved Simon, church bells have rang in his memory along with fireworks. We had no idea how popular and inspirational he was in our local community.”
His family have asked for privacy whilst they grieve his loss. A report is being prepared for the corner ahead of an inquest.
On the morning of the tragedy, Simon shared an inspirational public post to Facebook about ‘being a role model’ and ‘breaking the stigma’ for men using the gym, which he said should be a ‘place where people feel empowered, not intimidated.’
The post, which has since amassed 700 likes, read: “Break the stigma. You don’t have to be the ‘angry big guy’ in the gym. Instead, be the person who smiles, offers a helping hand, and inspires others to push themselves. We all started somewhere. “
The post continued: “Remember, the gym should be a place where people feel empowered, not intimidated. The younger generation is watching—be a role model.
“Show them that strength isn’t just about muscles, but also about kindness, patience, and encouragement. Let’s create an environment where everyone feels welcome to chase their goals.”
A GoFundMe has now been set up to support his family. To donate, click here.