A MAN who was killed after being hit by a train died as a result of suicide, an inquest has ruled.

John Collins, 60, was killed at Kelvedon railway station on October 29, 2018, after walking onto the tracks.

He was hit by a non-stopping Greater Anglia train travelling at 100mph.

The driver of the train had applied the emergency brakes once he had spotted Mr Collins on the tracks but was unable to prevent the collision.

Police and paramedics were both called to the incident but the deceased's injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination carried out after revealed the cause of death to be 1A fatal injuries.

At a full inquest into his death on Tuesday, Essex Coroner’s Court heard Mr Collins had a history of anxiety issues and panic attacks.

He had also received bad news regarding the health of his twin-brother prior to his death.

However, Mr Collins’s wife, Denise, told the court there was “nothing out of the ordinary” to suggest her husband would take his own life and that he had appeared in a better mood than normal when he walked the dog with her in the hours before his death.

Doctor Mark Roberts, a GP from Tiptree Medical Centre who had conducted a telephone appointment with Mr Collins ten days prior to his death, also told the court that he had deemed the deceased’s mood to be “stable”.

An investigation carried out by British Transport Police found there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragedy at Kelvedon Railway station and that it was a ‘deliberate’ act by Mr Collins to walk onto the tracks.

Mrs Collins said she and her family disputed some of British Transport Police's findings.

After hearing the evidence given, assistant coroner Tina Harrington ruled Mr Collins died as a result of suicide.

She said: “I have considered the array of possible conclusions, including an open verdict or accident.

“But I find on the balance of probability that Mr John Collins committed suicide.

“I do so on the evidence before me. I conclude that he died from a deliberate act that was initiated by him and that he intended to cause his death. Sadly, it did result in his death.”

Halstead Gazette:

New sleeping medication was only difference in John's life

A NEW prescription of sleeping pills were the only noticeable changes in Mr Collins's life prior to his death, his wife has said.

During the inquest into his death, Mrs Collins said she and her family had not found any clues as to why her husband may have wished to take his own life.

The family found emails to work clients arranging future meetings and a quick search of his internet history showed no signs of anything unusual.

Mrs Collins said the only difference in her husband's life was new medication he was taking to help him sleep.

The pills had been prescribed to him by his GP Mark Roberts along with medication for anxiety issues which he had found effective in the past.

Mrs Collins told the court: "We looked for something that was different because there is a huge disconnect between someone being stressed and someone standing in front of a 100mph train.

"This is a man who came from a close family where we talked about things. This was a man known to be funny, vibrant and helpful to people.

"John had experiences of anxiety in the past but we had always got through them.

"I wasn't really worried (about him). Although he was obviously sad about his brother, they didn't see each other an awful lot. I know he was affected by it and sad but I wouldn't have considered he was anymore stressed than he had been in the past."

"The only thing that was different this time was that he was taking prescribed medication that he had never taken before."

For support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 115 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch or go to Samaritans.org.