AN assistant headteacher plunged to his death just 40 minutes after waving his wife goodbye and leaving for work.

At the opening of Ian Campbell's inquest yesterday Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round described how the Hagley Roman Catholic High School teacher left his house in Townley, Warndon Villages, Worcester, on Monday at 7am as usual.

That was the last time his wife Virginia, also a teacher, saw him.

Worcestershire Coroner's Court heard how 40 minutes later Mr Campbell, who would have been 38 today, was found dead at the foot of the CrownGate car park in Worcester.

"He was found with injuries consistent with having fallen from a great height," Mr Round said.

"He was confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics."

Mr Round added that pathologist Terry Jones had confirmed the cause of death was due to shock and multiple injuries. He adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.