A former heroin addict who turned his life around to become an author and help others has been named as the victim of a town centre river tragedy.
Daniel Jay Grossett, 37, drowned after falling into the River Medway in Maidstone on Sunday, August 11. His body was recovered in the early hours of the following morning, an inquest opening heard on Monday.
Coroner Katrina Hepburn told the court that Daniel, of Rowan Place in Headcorn, had fallen into the water from a mooring near Archbishop’s Palace, prompting a 999 call from a witness. Police, paramedics, and an emergency helicopter were called to the scene in an attempt to save him.
Daniel volunteered at Hungry Hearts for the Homeless, where he shared his story of recovery to help others. His friend and former boss at the charity, Andy Pike, described him as “one in a million.”
“He was a really good geezer,” said Mr Pike. “He went through some really bad times. He was a lovely, really nice bloke. It’s really sad what happened.”
Mr Pike, who knew Daniel for about four years, praised his “amazing” book about his struggles and his dedication to supporting others.
“He was well-known and was giving back because he knew what it was like,” he said. “He’s left behind a lot of broken hearts. I loved working beside him because he knew how to deal with people, as he’d been in the same position. He’s an inspiration. A lot of people are really upset.”
Martyn Jones, who runs Penny Kemp’s Community Pantry and Café in Headcorn, said Daniel’s death will deeply affect many.
He said: “He had been coming here since we opened about a year and a half ago. He was an amazing person.
“At the end of every session, he would come up and thank us for putting it on. Not many people would do that. He was really nice.”
Mr Jones added: “I think his soul had done everything it wanted to in terms of helping people, and it was time to spread his wings.”
In a social media tribute, the café wrote: “It was devastating to hear of the passing of our regular pantry friend last week. Those in the pantry who knew this gentle soul lit a candle in memory of him this Sunday. Rest in peace, friend.”
Another person commented: “This is terrible news. I know Daniel, and he was an amazing soul. We shared many stories together about his life, music, and the books he has written. RIP, my friend. This world has lost a giant of a man.”
The inquest heard evidence from a witness who reported “arguing” before a splash in the water. CCTV later confirmed Daniel entering the river.
Kent Police confirmed that no arrests or charges have been made. The cause of death was given as drowning, and the inquest was adjourned until November 18.
Daniel’s story was one of hardship, survival, and redemption. He grew up in Brixton with his mum, sister and three brothers. At just 10 years old, his mother began drinking and smoking crack cocaine. Despite this, he described her as his best friend and said she always kept a family home filled with love.
By 12, Daniel had developed a cannabis addiction that escalated into crack cocaine, heroin and spice throughout his adult life.“
“When I started smoking, my grades dropped and I stopped going to school,” he once recalled. By 15, he was committing robberies, and at 17 he tried crack cocaine for the first time. Within a year, he was homeless.
Before his 21st birthday, Daniel was convicted of robbery. For the next 12 years, he was in and out of prison more than 40 times, serving sentences in jails including Belmarsh, Winchester, Elmley and Standford Hill.
Even after moving to Snodland with his partner in 2018, he continued to offend. In 2019, he was jailed again for thefts from supermarkets, service stations and cars, and ordered to pay over £1,000 in compensation.
Everything changed in 2020 when, while serving time in HMP Rochester, he learned his mother was dying of throat cancer. He said his final goodbye over the phone, unable to see her in person. Three days later, she passed away.
“Twenty-seven years I lived with her, we were very close,” Daniel recalled. “I realised at that moment that life is too short. I felt like if I had died then, I would feel like I had wasted my life.”
He even attended her funeral in handcuffs. After completing his sentence, Daniel vowed to turn his life around. He became sober, began volunteering at charities including the Hepatitis C Trust and Hungry Hearts for the Homeless, and wrote a book about his life.
In the preview, he described his transformation: “I was a shoplifting, needle-injecting heroin addict with drug-induced psychotic episodes walking the streets of London half-naked. Now, I’m a sober, published author, and heaven is the only word that describes the sentiment I regularly feel.”
His book details the chaos of prison life, his path to redemption, and even a chance encounter with rapper Stormzy outside a south London café.
