A FATHER of two fell 30ft to his death from a railway bridge after his wife ended their relationship.

But an inquest heard it was possible Robert Burgoyne, 46, had simply hoped to injure himself and get back with his wife. He had threatened to jump from the same bridge before.

Mr Burgoyne, a labourer, of Court Lodge Road, Gillingham, was found dead below the bridge at the town's Railway Street, by children playing on Friday, March 29.

His widow, Ann, said the couple's relationship had been in trouble and he had been verbally abusive. But it reached a stage, two weeks before his death, Mr Burgoyne hit their 17-year-old son. A few days before he died she told him she wanted to end their relationship but that he could carry on living at home.

Mrs Burgoyne said she believed he had gone straight to the bridge on Thursday, March 28 as she said that day he had told their eldest son: "You are a brainy boy. You will get on well, have a good life."

She believed he thought he would end up in hospital and they would get back together. She said her husband had threatened to jump from the same bridge last year.

Mrs Burgoyne said the couple had been married for 21 years, but she already knew him when, in 1979, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. This gave him residual brain damage, which had changed his behaviour.

She said: "He used to be a kind and gentle person but after our marriage he became very jealous and resentful and did not enjoy life. He became moody."

Coroner Rachel Redman recorded an open verdict. She said she could not be satisfied that it was suicide but did not believe there was enough to confirm an accident.