Champion bodybuilder dies in road crash horror

"Gentle giant" Steven Nicol, 38, was travelling home to South Queensferry when he lost control of his new Yamaha motorcycle and crashed into the central reservation on the M6 in Cheshire. He was thrown on to the wrong side of the road and killed instantly when he was hit by oncoming traffic.

His family today paid tribute to the former taxi driver, who ran a personal training and nutrition business in Fountainbridge.

Speaking from their home yesterday, his fiancee Gillian Martin said he was "the most caring and thoughtful" man she ever met.

Ms Martin, who worked with Mr Nicol in his Shine Sports Nutrition store on Dundee Street, said: "He worked so hard for his business, 10am until 10pm seven days a week. He had taken up taxi driving to pay for setting it up but he decided to give that up a few years ago.

"I met him through a friend and he was just the most determined man, if he wanted something or wanted to get it done, it would happen.

"He lived in the Moat area before moving out here and he loved it so much, it was so quiet especially when you work in the city. He'll really be missed and had so many friends who probably don't even know the news yet."

Muscular Mr Nicol weighed in at almost 20 stone and was a championship-winning bodybuilder – his most notable achievement was when he won the Mansfield Show bodybuilding contest in 2004.

A well-known trainer and nutritionist, he was trusted for his advice by some of the strongest and fittest men in the country, including the 2006 Mr Universe Steph Sinton.

Steven Nicol had travelled to Newcastle-under-Lyne to collect a new blue Yamaha YZF R1 motorbike before Saturday's accident, which happened near Knutsford.

Ms Martin, who is being comforted by friends and family, added that there was some initial confusion as to who had died on the motorbike.

She said: "Because the new documents hadn't been sent away yet, a policeman went round to the guy who sold the bike think-ing it may have been him who had died.

"He came downstairs and asked what was going on, and when he heard, he fainted because he had diabetes.

"I managed to speak to him briefly on the phone and could tell that he was absolutely devastated about the whole thing."

Mr Nicol's cousin James Shade, 42, was on holiday in Gran Canaria when he heard the news.

Speaking before flying back to Edinburgh, Mr Shade said: "We were cousins but more or less like brothers all our lives. He was gentle giant and will be sorely missed by everyone.

"He had a lot to look forward to – had been doing really well – and had worked really, really hard all his life. Steven was just a standard guy, hugely loved and known by a lot of people."

The Cheshire fire brigade said the M6 was closed for several hours after the incident, which happened at around 6pm.

A post mortem examination was expected to take place today.