A RETIRED bank manager took his own life after become increasingly depressed from suffering with severe tinnitus, an inquest in Truro has heard.

The body of Christopher Wheeler from Perranwell Station was found on the road at Hillhead near Penryn, underneath an overbridge, on March 25 last year.

The inquest was told Mr Wheeler had taken early retirement from Lloyds Bank in 2015 and had seemed happy taking a job as a driver at Ocean BMW before properly retiring at 55.

His wife Paula Wheeler said in a statement read out by assistant coroner Stephen Cavell that initially the retirement went well and Chris was able to go golfing and walking, had a social circle and was the fittest that he'd ever been.

However soon after that he began suffering from severe tinnitus that stopped him from sleeping. He became anxious and agitated and lost weight. He went to his GP on number of occasions and was anxious about being home on his own.

He went to a private consultant but they could find no underlying reason for his condition.

His wife Paula Wheeler, a service manager with the NHS, took time off work to look after him but when she planned to return he reacted badly.

In the weeks following this Mr Wheeler began worrying about a number of matters.

The inquest was told that prior to his illness he was a calm, confident, capable man, but he wasn't anymore.

On March 25, Mrs Wheeler said she had conversation with her husband and he was planning for the future once the lockdown was over.

At lunchtime they talked about going for a walk to build up trust so they could spend more time away from each other without him hurting himself. They headed off in different directions and agreed to meet up after ten minutes.

When he didn't contact her she rang him and, when he eventually answered the phone, he was rather vague as to where he was.

She waited for him to arrive at an appointed place. She rang again but there was no reply.

She returned home and his walking boots were there, and the car was missing. She subsequently found a note from him. 

She later received a call to say a body had been found under a bridge carrying the A39 Penryn bypass, which was then identified as that of Mr Wheeler. 

Coming to a verdict of suicide Mr Cavell said he was believed Mr Wheeler had intended to take his own life. 

A Just Giving page set up in Mr Wheeler's memory by his wife to raise money for British Tinnitus Association has so far raised over £2,500. You can donate here

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