The Bristol community has been left heartbroken following the tragic death of 21-year-old Daniel Soares, who has been described by grieving loved ones as "one of the most genuinely kind and beautiful souls you could ever meet." The young man from Kingswood died on the A4174 ring road near Bristol on January 14, with his family revealing he had been struggling with his mental health for some time.
An Outpouring of Love and Grief
In the weeks since his passing, dozens of floral tributes, balloons, and heartfelt messages have been left on the footbridge between Warmley and Longwell Green, creating a poignant memorial to the much-loved young man. Friends and family have shared touching stories about Dan's character, remembering him as someone who consistently put others before himself despite his own internal battles.
A Life Remembered With Affection
Daniel's grandmother, Janeca Pinto Mendonça, with whom he lived for the past 13 years, spoke movingly about her grandson's struggles and his wonderful personality. "Daniel did not have good self-esteem," she explained. "He was lovely but a lot of times, he told me that life doesn't make sense and when I told him that I love him and everyone loves him, he said 'I don't know why because I don't feel good.'"
Despite these challenges, Janeca emphasized how she wants Daniel to be remembered: "Really what I want is that Daniel can be remembered as a fantastic boy with his curly hair and his big smile. And he was so funny, he was always making jokes." She recalled fond memories of cooking and dancing together in the kitchen to music, moments that now represent precious memories.
The Struggle for Mental Health Support
Janeca revealed that Daniel had been waiting to hear from a referral about potential medication that he believed might help calm his mind. "He was waiting for help for his mental health and they said they would call him soon and perhaps he needs medication," she said. "He was really very hopeful with that, saying perhaps he can have some help, but he needed to know if it would calm down his mind."
The family believes Daniel may have had ADHD, though this was never officially diagnosed. He had found some support from ADHD Bristol Collective, particularly after the death of his mother, Sofia, a couple of years ago—a loss that profoundly affected him alongside the passing of his great-grandmother and a family friend he viewed as a grandfather figure.
Friends Rally in Support
Close friend Charlie Trepka has organized a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral costs, which has already raised an astonishing £10,195 at the time of writing—a testament to how many lives Daniel touched. In the fundraiser description, Charlie wrote: "Dan was soft, gentle, loving and endlessly caring—the type of person who would do anything for anyone without hesitation, expecting nothing in return."
Charlie, who knew Daniel since their teenage years when they would regularly hang out with friends at Troopers Hill nature reserve, remembered: "Dan was always the funniest one, just being silly and just making everyone's stomach hurt from laughing. He was just really selfless. If someone needed something like somewhere to stay, Dan would be so selfless and offer them to stay at his, out of the kindness of his heart."
Calls for More Open Discussion
Both Charlie and Janeca have emphasized the importance of more open discussion around mental health, particularly for men. "It's really taboo for men especially around mental health," Charlie noted. "There's just such a stigma around it like they can't speak about it because it looks weak. I just wish [mental health] was more spoken about. If Dan had texted any of us, he knew he could have told any of us, we all would have gone there to be with him and we wouldn't have let this happen."
Janeca echoed this sentiment: "I think it's necessary to talk about mental health more because there are a lot of people who are struggling."
Personal Tributes From Close Friends
Another friend, Jodie Rose Fox, who met Daniel when they were both at King's Oak Academy, shared: "Dan was an amazing person and he really was the bestest friend you could wish for. When I first moved to the school I didn't know anyone and I didn't have any friends—Dan was the first friend I made in King's Oak and he was the best I ever had."
Jodie recalled how they would FaceTime for hours when Daniel was on holiday in Portugal, and how he loved showing friends viewpoints around Bristol to watch sunsets. "He absolutely loved to show all his friends viewpoints in Bristol that he discovered," she said. "When we would tell him how nice the view was from the places he took us to he'd be so excited that we loved it too."
Friend Spyrit Frampton added: "I went to school with Daniel and from primary to secondary he was always such a light. He will be so deeply missed in so many ways but his memories and impact on others will live on."
A Final Act of Love
Charlie described the fundraising effort as "the last final act of love for Dan and to show how loved he really was because everyone just wants to come together and help Janeca." The overwhelming response—with thousands raised in just two hours—has provided some comfort to those mourning, demonstrating the widespread affection for the young man known for his infectious smile and pure heart.
As the community continues to process this devastating loss, Daniel Soares is remembered not for the tragedy of his death, but for the beauty of his spirit, his selfless nature, and the joy he brought to those fortunate enough to know him.
