Man died when struck by 100mph train

David BaleA man who died when struck by a 100mph train left his widow a note saying he could not forgive himself for having an affair with another woman, an inquest heard yesterday.David Bale

A man who died when struck by a 100mph train left his widow a note saying he could not forgive himself for having an affair with another woman.

Michael Dewhurst, 44, was hit by the 3pm train from London Liverpool Street to Norwich near the level crossing at Tivetshall St Mary, near Diss, at about 5pm on January 11, an inquest heard yesterday.

Marie Dewhurst told the hearing one of the notes he left said he could not forgive himself for what he did to her by having a relationship with another woman.

A jury returned a suicide verdict after being told about the notes and also that Mr Dewhurst previously talked of taking his own life.

Mrs Dewhurst said they had been married nearly 20 years but last Boxing Day he told her about the affair.

She said: 'I was devastated. He said then that he was thinking of taking his own life.

'He said he felt like going away and said we would be better off without him. He said he had some painkillers and was thinking of taking those, but I thought I made him promise not to do that as life was too precious.'

On January 11 he gave her a hug and left home for work and told her that he would always love her, she said.

Mr Dewhurst, a tree surgeon who managed a business in Coddenham, Suffolk, lived with his wife in Burstall near Ipswich.

On January 11 he arrived at work at about 9am and went out to view some work before returning at about 1.20pm.

His former secretary Emma Wrixon-Gulli told the inquest: 'He was very quiet and there was an air about him that was not normal. There was also a smell of alcohol about him, which was very unusual.'

She said he left work again at about 2.15pm to go to a job in Forncett St Peter, near Long Stratton, and that was the last time she saw him.

Norfolk coroner William Armstrong read a statement by train driver Steven Wilkinson who said: 'The required speed I was driving was 100mph. Near the Tivetshall level crossing I saw a figure standing still on the rail track.

'I braked and there was a loud sound on impact. I only saw the figure for a fraction of a second. The train stopped three quarters of a mile farther along. The person my train collided with made no effort to leave the track.'

Pc Jairaj Mottram, from British Transport Police, said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Dewhurst's abandoned car was found near to the level crossing and the suicide notes were inside. The cause of death was given as massive trauma.