Heartbroken ex-girlfriend of Asia's strongest man, 35, breaks down at his funeral as hundreds gather to mourn his death in a 'violent home invasion' they claim was 'completely out of character'

  • Bradley Soper, 34, who died during a home invasion in western Sydney, has been farewelled in his hometown
  • The funeral for Soper - who was named Asia's Strongest Man in 2017 - was held at Dubbo, in New South Wales
  • Soper broke into the family home of Johann Schwartz on February 17 and died after struggle with homeowner 
  • The personal trainer's ex-girlfriend joined his family and friends at the funeral service on Wednesday morning
  • Inside the service, the personal trainer and amateur weightlifter was remembered as a 'good and kind' person 

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 The shattered ex-girlfriend of Asia’s strongest man – who was killed during a violent struggle with a Sydney homeowner - has broken down in tears outside his funeral.  

Bradley Soper, 35, died in the early hours of Sunday, February 17, during a struggle with Johann Schwartz, who had confronted the bodybuilder after hearing him break into his family home in Harrington Park. 

Kaisha Gambell - whose break up with the bodybuilder Soper's family blames for the bizarre home invasion - was among the hundreds of mourners to pack the Dubbo City Crematorium, in central-western New South Wales, for his funeral service on Wednesday morning.   

Ms Gambell was comforted by Soper's family and friends as she left the crematorium. 

Kaisha Gambell (pictured), the ex-girlfriend of bodybuilder Bradley Soper, is comforted by a friend outside his funeral service on Wednesday. Soper, 34, died after becoming involved in a struggle with a man whose home he had broken into this month

Kaisha Gambell (pictured), the ex-girlfriend of bodybuilder Bradley Soper, is comforted by a friend outside his funeral service on Wednesday. Soper, 34, died after becoming involved in a struggle with a man whose home he had broken into this month

Soper and Ms Gambell (pictured) had split in the months before he invaded the home at Harrington Park, in Sydney's west, in the early hours of Sunday, February 17
Soper's father Raymond last week told Daily Mail Australia that his son had suffered a 'breakdown' after his serious relationship ended

Soper and Ms Gambell (pictured) had split in the months before he invaded the home in Harrington Park, western Sydney. His father Raymond last week told Daily Mail Australia that his son had suffered a 'breakdown' after his serious relationship ended

Soper (left) won the title of Asia's Strongest Man in 2017, with Ms Gambell (right) by his side for support throughout the event

Soper (left) won the title of Asia's Strongest Man in 2017, with Ms Gambell (right) by his side for support throughout the event

Inside the service, the personal trainer and amateur weightlifter was remembered as a 'good and kind' person with loved ones insisting the recent home invasion was completely 'out of character'.

Soper's devastated father Raymond last week told Daily Mail Australia he believed the break-up with Ms Gambell had caused his son to suffer a breakdown.

He believed this directly led him to break into the Schwartz family home in a 'zombie-like' state.  

'Bradley hadn't taken it well at all, he still had a broken heart,' Mr Soper said. 

'They had been going out for well over 12 months, I'd say. We met her and she was a very nice girl.'

Friends remembered Soper as a 'kind and generous' person, who had helped many people change their lives since starting his own personal training business.

His father said last week he was at a loss to explain why the man he knew would break into a home and ransack it.

'All I can say is it was all out of character for Bradley. We feel that he's had some sort of a breakdown or something,' Mr Soper said.

Raymond Soper last week told Daily Mail Australia the break-up with Ms Gambell (right) had caused his son (left) to suffer a 'breakdown'. 'Bradley hadn't taken it well at all, he still had a broken heart,' Mr Soper said

Raymond Soper last week told Daily Mail Australia the break-up with Ms Gambell (right) had caused his son (left) to suffer a 'breakdown'. 'Bradley hadn't taken it well at all, he still had a broken heart,' Mr Soper said

The casket for strongman Soper was adorned with a photo of the personal trainer, a t-shirt with his personal training business logo and his favourite pair of runners

The casket for strongman Soper was adorned with a photo of the personal trainer, a t-shirt with his personal training business logo and his favourite pair of runners

Soper's funeral booklet included photos of him with his family and after winning the title of Asia's Strongest Man in 2017

Soper's funeral booklet included photos of him with his family and after winning the title of Asia's Strongest Man in 2017

Mr Soper's brother leaves the funeral service at the Dubbo City Crematorium, in central western New South Wales

Mr Soper's brother leaves the funeral service at the Dubbo City Crematorium, in central western New South Wales

Inside the service the personal trainer and amateur weightlifter was remembered by loved ones as a 'good and kind' person

Inside the service the personal trainer and amateur weightlifter was remembered by loved ones as a 'good and kind' person

A group of Soper's mates embrace outside the funeral service for the popular bodybuilder, who moved to Sydney after growing up in country NSW

A group of Soper's mates embrace outside the funeral service for the popular bodybuilder, who moved to Sydney after growing up in country NSW

'There's no way he would go into anyone's place intentionally, there's just no way.'

An obituary published by Mr Soper in a local newspaper described his son as being 'greatly loved and adored', and a 'great mate and mentor to many'.

In lieu of flowers, mourners at the ceremony were asked to make donations to CanTeen Australia - a charity for young people with cancer.

As Soper was farewelled by family and friends, police continued to try to piece together exactly what occurred in the moments before his death.

Detectives believe that after hearing his dogs bark loudly when Soper jumped his back fence, Mr Schwartz walked down stairs to confront the intruder.

A struggle ensued, during which the businessman placed the bodybuilder in a chokehold - a move that eventually killed him.

Soper regularly competed in strongman events around the world, where crowds gather to watch athletes go through a series of events including pulling stationary cars (pictured)

Soper regularly competed in strongman events around the world, where crowds gather to watch athletes go through a series of events including pulling stationary cars (pictured)

Soper (centre) had his greatest success on the strongman stage when he won the title of Asia's Strongest Man back in 2017

Soper (centre) had his greatest success on the strongman stage when he won the title of Asia's Strongest Man back in 2017

Soper died after a struggle with Johann Schwartz (left) who confronted the bodybuilder after hearing him break into his home at Harrington Park, in western Sydney, about 7.30am. Mr Schwartz's wife and daughter (pictured) were just metres away

Soper died after a struggle with Johann Schwartz (left) who confronted the bodybuilder after hearing him break into his home at Harrington Park, in western Sydney, about 7.30am. Mr Schwartz's wife and daughter (pictured) were just metres away

The bodybuilder - who lived in a nearby street - reportedly wandered the local area for more than an hour in an agitated state before jumping over the backyard fence and breaking into the Schwartz family's home (pictured)

The bodybuilder - who lived in a nearby street - reportedly wandered the local area for more than an hour in an agitated state before jumping over the backyard fence and breaking into the Schwartz family's home (pictured)

Police (pictured at the Schwartz family's home the day after the incident) are not expected to charge Mr Schwartz over the scuffle with Soper, but their investigations are ongoing

Police (pictured at the Schwartz family's home the day after the incident) are not expected to charge Mr Schwartz over the scuffle with Soper, but their investigations are ongoing

In the hours before he entered the Schwartz family home at 7.30am, Soper - who lived just a few streets over - had been seen by locals walking barefoot along through the new estate and yelling loudly.

Just before 7.30am the fitness guru was seen knocking on a neighbours door, before running away and attempting to get an answer at another home some minutes later.

Continuing to walk through the street in an agitated state, Soper then jumped the fence of several homes when he eventually made it into the Schwartz backyard.

It is then that he entered the home where he would eventually die of a medical episode.

Police are not expected to charge Mr Schwartz over the scuffle with Soper, but their investigations are ongoing.  

Toxicology and post-mortem examinations carried out last week were inconclusive, with further tests to be carried out.

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Sydney bodybuilder killed in home invasion farewelled

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