A DAD who suffered from mental health problems jumped off a bridge hours after telling hospital staff that he feared he would harm himself or someone else.

Clive Thomas died on the railway tracks in Oakley, after jumping from a footbridge on September 21, an inquest heard.

The 67-year-old former Welsh 1,500m champion suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, who tried to resuscitate him when he went into cardiac arrest.

His partner of three years, Susan Adams, said in a statement read out to a jury of seven that he had been suffering with anxiety.

The couple had been together since 2011 after Mr Thomas' wife died of cancer, and they spent their time in either Somerset or Basingstoke.

Miss Adams, whose husband died in 2002, said Mr Thomas had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and suffered from mental health problems, previously taking two overdoses and spending time in a mental health unit.

She said: “We had both experienced how short life could be and made the most of time together.”

Mr Thomas, a retired teacher, discovered on September 12 that the cancer had progressed and was at stage two, which would require radiotherapy or an operation.

Miss Adams, whose father died on September 17, said Mr Thomas told her the following day that he was having “black thoughts” which he knew were irrational.

The athletics coach was prescribed anti-depressants but refused to take them because of their effect, she added.

On September 20 the couple went to Basingstoke hospital's emergency department where Mr Thomas informed a nurse of his mental health history, his two suicide attempts and the cancer.

Miss Adams told the inquest: “He told them at the hospital that although he had no plan to hurt himself or anyone else, he was so frightened he was going to.”

The father-of-two took diazepam after leaving hospital.

Miss Adams said: “I woke with a start at 5am to see Clive frantically pacing. He said he was frightened he would kill me. He was flinging himself around saying 'protect yourself'.”

An ambulance was called at 5.30am and police arrived at 6.09am, but Mr Thomas had left.

Dave Keats, a train driver, said in a statement read to the jury that he saw a body lying face down.

Sergeant Mark Stook, from British Transport Police, said there were “scuff marks” on the footbridge that were probably caused by Mr Thomas.

North East Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley asked the jury to consider the evidence, saying: “This all seems deliberate and calculated.”

He added: “He clearly steals away from home in a very agitated state. He goes down to the railway line and jumps from the bridge.”

The jury returned their verdict stating that Mr Thomas had “killed himself whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed”.

Mr Thomas' son, Neal, 40, told The Gazette: “He was a much-loved man. It's a big loss to us. Today was difficult but we can move forward a little bit now.”

The Samaritans are available to help anyone in any type of distress on 08457 90 90 90.