A YOUNG man “who always had a smile on his face” will be cremated by members of his grieving family today.

The family of 26-year-old Shaun Dallas say his death came like a bolt out of the blue and they cannot understand why he might have taken his own life.

Mr Dallas, an avid fisherman and Manchester United supporter, was found hanging from a fence under a footbridge near the Medway Valley Line in Cuxton, near Rochester, in the early hours of September 12.

Now his mother, 48-year-old Pauline Dallas, has spoken of her son’s tragic death.

“He was a typical Jack-the-lad and always had a laugh and a smile on his face and would help absolutely anyone,” said Mrs Dallas, of Chelmsford Road, Strood.

“We can’t really believed what’s happened because we just didn’t see it coming. He seemed so happy and he was very popular."

One of Shaun’s favourite TV personalities was Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.

Mrs Dallas added: “He could do the impression of Steve Irwin really well and he was genuinely upset when he died.

“He got loads of texts from people telling him the news because they knew he liked Steve Irwin so much.”

Mr dallas had been living with a friend in North Bank Close, Strood, when he died. He was born in Chatham and went to Bligh Infant and Junior Schools at Strood before joining Temple School.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.

Family and friends are paying their final respects at Shaun’s funeral today (Friday) at Medway Crematorium from 12.20pm and will be gathering in the Bridgewood Manor Hotel afterwards.

He leaves behind his mother and father, Glenn, 51, sister Michelle, 22, brother Kenny, 19, and three-year-old nephew Lewis.