Freak accident at David Lloyd gymnasium that killed Coronation Street star Carol Royle’s husband revealed

The husband of Coronation Street actress Carol Royle died after diving into a freezing outdoor swimming pool at his local David Lloyd leisure centre, MailOnline can reveal.

Julian Spears – a music industry legend who made stars out of the Boom Town Rats and The Stranglers – had seen steam rising from the pool and assumed it was heated – as it was every other time he had used it over the last four years.

But when he jumped in, the cold temperature triggered a sudden massive brain haemorrhage.

Mr Spears, 74, was able to drive home safely after his swim at David Lloyd’s Hampton branch in West London.

He even made himself lunch and had started to put stamps on Christmas cards to be sent to relatives and friends abroad when he started feeling ill and became dizzy.

The PR boss for music company Phonogram collapsed in a downstairs cloakroom and shouted out to his wife for help.

She called an Ambulance and he was rushed to the West Middlesex Hospital from his home in Twickenham, West London on Sunday afternoon.

He died the following day on Monday due to the internal bleeding he had suffered being located in a part of the brain that was inoperable.

His devastated family today paid tribute to a ‘incredible’ husband and father who jogged three times a week, cycled rather than drove and ate healthy organic food.

Wife Carol said: ‘We met at 14-years old and were childhood sweethearts. We went our separate ways, of course, but we reunited in 1977 and had been together since then.

‘He was the healthiest person you could meet, he ate organic wholefood. He was a keen jogger, he would run every day. He used to cycle to the shops rather than drive and he’d go for a walk after every meal.

‘He loved life, unbelievably passionate about music. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of music from 1960s-to present. He loved quiz games because of that, he used to make me bad tempted because he got everything right all the time.

‘But he was very humble, he never boasted about the incredible successes he had, like breaking The Boom Town Rats and The Stranglers.

‘He worked with artists like Barry White and Cheryl Crow.

‘But Julian was such a very grounded man, very humble man. He was never full of himself and had this amazing talent of getting people the press they deserved.

‘I think it’s such a pity that he’s not around to hear the eulogies and the tributes.

‘I’ll remember so many things about him.

And there were so many. But he had such positivity in life and a passion for all he did. he had complete belief in his children.

‘His nature was to be a provider. Nothing was ever a problem.

‘I don’t know how we are going to deal with Christmas this year. It just won’t be the same.

‘The Christmas cards we were about to send to friends and relatives abroad are still in the same place on his desk untouched from Sunday.

‘He had gone to the leisure centre just to use the outdoor pool. He had gone swimming there three of four times a week for the last four years.

‘The pool was always heated. It was never cold on any of the other occasions he’d used it.

‘And on Sunday he recalled seeing steam rising from the water so assumed it was heated as normal.

‘But he jumped in and the water was freezing cold. He was left quite shaken but managed to get out and drive home safely.

‘Apparently there were signs warning people the pool was unheated that day but we don’t know where these signs were exactly and how prominent they were.

‘But certainly nobody told Julian there was an issue with the pool’s heating at reception or any other time before he jumped in.

‘Julian returned home and managed to make himself a spot of lunch and then went to his office to put stamps on those Christmas cards.

‘I heard him shout for me and I found him collapsed in the downstairs cloakroom.

‘He complained of feeling poorly and that he’d lost his balance. He said that the room was spinning so much he didn’t want to open his eyes

‘I called an ambulance and he was taken to hospital. The haemorrhage was in a part of the brain that was inoperable and he died the following day.

‘He completed me. One hundred per cent. He was kind, genuine, generous and lived life to the full.’

Daughter Tally, who is a songwriter and musician, said: ‘My dad recently gave me a Taylor acoustic guitar as an early Christmas present.

‘From now on, any song I write will be inspired by and dedicated to him.

‘He was always the first person I went to when I needed to bounce ideas off or show material to.

‘We’ve had so many people who worked with him contact us to share their memories of dad and pay tribute.

‘Bob Harris said he was a man of warmth, integrity and love. Cheryl Crow saw him as one of her family, they loved each other and had worked together for more than 30-years. She’s absolutely heartbroken.

‘Even my friends have contacted me to remember how dad played guitar to them, made them healthy snacks and made them laugh a lot.

‘His kindness left a mark on their lives. One friend used a Maya Angelou quote that I think is particularly apt which goes ‘People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel’

‘That sums up dad perfectly.’

Son Taran, 41, also a musician, added: He was an incredible father, he couldn’t have been more doting or loving.

‘He always told us how much he believed in us and would inspire us. He was our number one fan and we were his.

‘We will remember him for the music he gave us and the love he gave us.’ 

A David Lloyd spokesperson said: ‘We are sorry to hear of the passing of Julian Spears who was a member at our Hampton Club.

‘Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends.’