AN INQUEST has concluded that a Penarth man who “leaped” in front of a train committed suicide.

An inquest was held into the death of Martin Keith Davies after he died at the level crossing near St George’s in Cardiff on Thursday, September 25, last year.

The inquest heard that the train was travelling at approximately 75 miles an hour when it struck Mr Davies.

CCTV from a nearby house caught Mr Davies, who was wearing a crash helmet at the time, leaning against an embankment before he “jumped or leaped” in front of the train.

Arriva Trains Wales train driver Michael Charles Wilding saw Mr Davies “dash across the line” and sounded the horn, but he was unable to stop the train due to the short distance and speed of the train.

Mr Wilding was said to be “visibly shocked and distressed” following the collision.

Mr Davies was pronounced dead at the scene and a post mortem concluded that he died of multiple injuries.

Police investigated the death and found no note at the scene, at his home or in his car.

John Wilson, a coroner liaison officer for British Transport Police, studied the CCTV footage and told the inquest “Mr Davies can be seen to appear to dive on to the line”. He said there was no evidence that he had tripped or fallen over.

The inquest heard that Mr Davies, who was aged 56, lived at Clive Place with his mother Brenda after his father had died.

He was her sole carer and she had since moved into the Parklands Residential Home in Penarth.

The court heard his older brother had also committed suicide by jumping off the multi-storey car park in Barry.

Close friend Francis John Abrams said that he enjoyed going to Cardiff City games with Mr Davies, both home and away, as well as going out in the evenings. He said that Mr Davies played the drums in bands in the area, that he loved gadgets, and that he had “no objection to throwing money around”. He worked in the tax office full time.

The court heard that prior to his death Mr Davies had been arrested at his home for a “serious offence” and after appearing at Cardiff and Vale Magistrates Court was due to be sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on October 10.

Judge R P Rowlands, who was due to preside over the case, said at the time: “It’s all very sad and commiserations are due to the deceased’s family.”

Mr Abrams said that he knew Mr Davies had been charged with a “serious offence” but was unaware of the details of it. The last time he saw him was at Cardiff City’s home game against Fulham on August 30. He added that he was “shocked and surprised” when he heard of his death.

Senior coroner Andrew Barkley: “I would like to extend to his family and friends my condolences for their sad loss. I know that he was the sole carer of his elderly mother and it is a terrible tragedy in that context.”

In conclusion at the inquest Mr Barkley said that he was satisfied that Mr Davies’ death was as a result of suicide as it was “a deliberate act by himself”, he was satisfied that he “intended to bring about his death” and could see “no sensible alternative explanations”.