Student jumped in front of train

Christopher Mahon, whose parents Michael and Yvonne live in St Godwald's Road, Aston Fields, was in his second year at Loughborough University.

On Thursday, at an inquest at Loughborough Magistrates' Court, the jury heard efforts had been made by former barman Brendan O'Reilly to talk him out of the attempt.

Mr Mahon, who lived in Cumberland Road, in Loughborough, had left a note in the pub where O'Reilly worked in the town, which stated his intention to kill himself at the railway station that night.

After discovering the note Mr O'Reilly alerted the police and staff at Loughborough railway station and searched for Mr Mahon, whom he found at the railway station.

Mr O'Reilly told the hearing he believed he had managed to talk Mr Mahon, whom he knew slightly, out of committing suicide.

During their conversation Mr Mahon had confessed he felt a disappointment to himself and his family but Mr O'Reilly had countered that his parents would love him whatever.

Midland Mainline driver Paul Smith told the jury that just after midnight he saw a man on the platform of Loughborough Station take a running jump in front of his train.

Early hours

He was declared dead at the scene in the early hours of May 23.

His housemate, Stephen Beesley, said the day before his death Mr Mahon had been excited about being picked for the last round of the BBC series Shipwrecked.

He told the hearing: "He seemed bright and happy.

"In the first year he was very much outgoing and the second he was a bit subdued -- he wasn't quite the same character."

Leicester Royal Infirmary's consultant pathologist, Dr Charles Kendall, said Mr Mahon had died from multiple injuries.

He also had a history of psychological problems and self-harming.

The jury returned a verdict of suicide.

Mr Mahon's mother, who is deputy advertisement manager at Bromsgrove Advertiser/Messenger, his father, who works at Rover, and sister were at the inquest.