Personal trainer died in suspected home invasion

The man who died in a suspected home invasion in Sydney’s south west has been revealed as personal trainer Bradley Soper who competed in international weightlifting events. Friends said reports he died after breaking into a Harrington Park home seemed “out of character”.

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The man who died in a suspected home invasion in Sydney’s south west has been revealed as personal trainer Bradley Soper who competed in international weightlifting events.

Friends of Mr Soper, 35, spoke of their grief today at a Narellan gym where he lifted weights and trained his own clients.

Brad Soper died in a suspected home invasion.

Brad Soper’s friends have been left shocked by his death.

Brad Soper competed in weightlifting events.

They said reports he died after breaking into a Harrington Park home seemed “out of character” for their friend.

“I’m pretty much in deep shock to be honest with you. He pretty much, day to day for three years, we talked, had laughs. Still trying to get my head around it,” friend and colleague Peter Tsikas said.

“We got to know each other, do business together and he basically for the first three years of my career brought me up.

“It was all about everyone else, he pretty much passionately said to me everything is about someone else. If you’re here to help someone else’s you’re going to (need) to do everything you can to help them.

“That kind of hit me a little bit, I was kind of like wow he actually genuinely cared about other people’s health and wellness.”

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Johan Schwartz was released after 10 hours of questioning. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Police suspect Mr Soper broke into the Harrington Park home of 44-year-old Johan Schwartz who confronted him in the living room at 7.30am Sunday morning.

Mr Schwartz, woke to the sound of his dogs barking and went downstairs to find the intruder, who police described as “muscular”, standing inside his living room.

There was a confrontation between the pair and police suspect Mr Schwartz was restraining the would-be thief when he lost consciousness.

Mr Schwarz’s wife called to neighbours who ran into the house and began CPR on the man. Paramedics were also called but the intruder could not be revived.

A body is removed from the house. Picture: Monique Harmer

Police at the scene after the death of an alleged home invader. Picture: Monique Harmer

Mr Schwartz, a business analyst known to neighbours as Francois, accompanied detectives to Narellan police station.

Following more than 10 hours of questioning, he was released without charge “pending further inquiries’’.

On December 3, Mr Soper posted an image from his podium finish at the Strongman Champions League event in Goa, India.

“That’s a wrap for the year, settling for 3rd,” he wrote.

His Instagram account is filled with motivational and informative videos on the issue of high-performance training.

Detectives talk to neighbours in Harrington Park. Picture: John Grainger

Friends said Mr Soper had experienced some problems recently but seemed to be in good spirits in the days before the tragedy.

A client of Mr Soper’s, who did not with to be named, trained with him on Friday and said he could not picture his friend breaking into a house.

“That is just so out of character for him,” he said.

“He always turned up to training on time, he was available 24-7.”

Brad Soper had experienced some problems recently, friends say.

Originally published as Personal trainer died in suspected home invasion