A MAN who was hit by a train at Thatto Heath station took his own life, a coroner has concluded.

David Wilson, 53, of Crossley Road died on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 10 on the St Helens Central to Liverpool Lime Street line.

An inquest held at St Helens town hall heard Mr Wilson, a self-employed chauffeur, had suffered from drug and alcohol dependency and had gone through a divorce in 2007.

Coroners officer Kevin Farrell said that on the afternoon of the death Mr Wilson's actions were seen by witnesses.

The train was not due to stop at the station and, after seeing Mr Wilson the driver applied the emergency breaks but due to its speed the train only came to a halt after 100 metres.

A British Transport Police investigation ruled there was no third-party involvement.

A toxicology report showed Mr Wilson was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time and that his death.

A search of Mr Wilson's Crossley Road home found a laptop which had train timetables on it.

Delivering his verdict of suicide, coroner Graham Jackson concluded: "There was nobody else on the platform and he didn't stumble or fall and suffered from depression."