ONLY hours earlier, former Gold Coast Titan and high-profile personal trainer Guy Borgas was joking with teammates from the Tugun Seahawks at preseason training.

But at 9am yesterday, the champion bodybuilder and newly appointed Seahawks strength and conditioning coach was found dead. Police believe he took his own life.

Despite his allegedly cheery disposition, some of Mr Borgas’s closest friends revealed the suicide of his best friend and Seahawks teammate Chris Kitching, 24, in May tortured Mr Borgas right up to his final days.

WHY OUR BOYS KEEP DYING

Former Tugun Seahawks coach and club stalwart Selwyn Apanui knew Mr Borgas for most of his life and said the talented footballer was rocked by the death of his friend.

“It hurt him, it cut him deep,” he said. “He didn’t really grasp the whole concept well. He accepted it but didn’t understand why and now we’re in this position.

“They played juniors together, they came through together, they pretty much did everything together.”

media_camera Guy Borgas scores a try for the Tugun Seahawks against the Currumbin Eagles.

Mr Apanui said Mr Borgas’s death came as a great shock to the club, having recently welcomed him back after a season away focusing on bodybuilding.

“He had these boys training, trying to get fit for next year’s footy season,” he said.

“It’s amazing what 24 hours can do. He was all about business, all about getting the boys basically to perform at their best. Joking around, having a laugh.

“Unfortunately you just don’t know when these things are going to happen.

“You’ve just got to grab your mate and hug him a bit tighter and make sure everything’s all right.”

media_camera Guy Borgas (in blue) in action for the Tugun Seahawks against the Tweed Heads Raiders.

Mr Borgas had played for the Seahawks since he was a junior and was instrumental in the club’s 2013 premiership win. But this year the fitness fanatic accepted a position on the Seahawks coaching staff while preparing to make his comeback after a year off.

Star Gold Coast Titans forward Ryan James played alongside Mr Borgas at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School as well as at the Titans and was shocked to hear of his former teammate’s death.

“He was always a happy- go-lucky sort of bloke,” he said. “We played a fair bit together up until the 20s … it’s just shocking news, you never think something like that is going to happen.”

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