A man who was close to giving up on life says joining a running club helped save him from suicide.

Dave Brooker became part of the Maidstone Harriers team after entering a downward spiral following a relationship break-up.

Last month, a year on from signing up, he completed the gruelling Beachy Head marathon, finishing the 26-mile course in five-and-a-half hours.

The 48-year-old began self-harming and contemplated taking his life after separating with his partner in the winter of 2014.

Finding himself lonely and upset he began thinking about taking an overdose of pills.

But he visited a counsellor who helped him with his struggles and suggested he became a member of a club to meet people with similar interests.

Mr Brooker, of Wouldham High Street, always enjoyed running and the advice struck a chord.

He said: “I have achieved more in one year as a Maidstone Harrier than I could have ever believed possible, largely due to the overwhelmingly positive support from so many people.

“I never would have thought a year on I’d be running a 26-mile marathon. At a place where many go to end their life, I restarted mine.”

He says a particularly touching moment was seeing his team mates wait for him when he slowed down five miles from the finish line.

His story comes as the findings of a new study, released on Monday found almost half of men aged 18-45 have contemplated ending their life for reasons including divorce, financial woes and problems at work.

A YouGov poll of 2,000 men for suicide prevention charity Calm (Campaign Against Living Miserably), found 42% had considered killing themselves. Of these half had never spoken about it.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, in 2013 there were 627 male suicides in the South East – compared with 193 cases affecting women.

Mr Brooker, a retail warehouse worker, continues to receive support from Crossline Christian Counselling Service in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone.

He urges anyone in a similar situation to seek advice.

“There is something out there for everyone. I never thought I’d come this far, I never even considered joining a club.”

For confidential support, call 08457 909090 or go to www.samaritans.org