Poignant last message of hope shared by personal trainer on social media just hours before tragedy at Dovestone Reservoir

A 'larger than life' personal trainer who died after falling into the Dovestone Reservoir while paddleboarding shared a poignant message of hope on his social media page just hours before the tragedy.

Simon Daniels, a personal trainer from Winsford, in Cheshire, got into difficulty on the Oldham reservoir on Sunday (October 20). It's understood he had been paddleboarding on the water with a woman when the pair fell in.

A huge emergency services response raced to the scene, including police water rescue units, fire crews and paramedics. A woman was rescued and treated for hypothermia - however Simon didn't resurface.

READ MORE Fundraiser for paddleboarder killed in Dovestone Reservoir tragedy nears £20k

A major search was conducted at the reservoir with a scene put in place before Simon was tragically pulled from the water three days later, on Wednesday (October 23).

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. 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."

In a statement issued through Greater Manchester Police, his family 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.

“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 friends have launched a fundraiser to support the family, which has raised almost £20,000. Tributes for much-loved Simon have poured in on GoFundMe, as one woman described him as "an incredible spirit, warm heart, bucketfuls of character and care for all," adding his death was "a huge loss to the whole community."

A report is being prepared for the corner following Simon's death, GMP says.

To see the GoFundMe page, click here.