A 27-year-old man who was killed after being struck by a train at High Wycombe railway station took his own life after struggling with debt and employment.
Ricki Weeks, of Eaton Avenue, High Wycombe, died at the scene after jumping in front of a non-stop train during the rush hour on July 30.
An inquest into his death, which took place at Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court today (Wednesday), heard Mr Weeks had struggled with debt, had “alienated a lot of people” and struggled to hold down a job in the months leading up to his death.
In a statement by his GP, Dr Chloe Dallimore, read out by coroner’s officer Geraldine Trickett, Dr Dallimore said she had seen repeated requests for sick notes by Mr Weeks so he could take time off work.
She said she became concerned and asked him if everything was okay, adding: “I expressed my concerns about the frequent requests for medical notes and he admitted he was using the notes to avoid work as he was dissatisfied with his job.”
When pressed further, Dr Dallimore said Mr Weeks told her he had not “felt right” for some time. He told her his father had left the family when he was just six-years-old and that he had been bullied at school.
He also told her he was in a relationship with a woman but described it as “more like friends than love”, and told her he had had thoughts about jumping in front of a train and taking his own life.
Dr Dallimore said she came up with a six-point plan to help Ricki with his mental health struggles, including signing him off work for a little longer and seeing a therapist. She said he told her he would also consider taking antidepressants.
The court heard the accountant struggled at work and was dismissed from a number of jobs.
Giving evidence, TDC Ikram, of the British Transport Police, said: “I understand he was quite a big online gamer. Whenever there was a new game released he would play it quite a lot.”
TDC Ikram said it affected his job as he was taking time off work to play the games, and was dismissed from a number of jobs at the time.
He said Mr Weeks had also taken out a loan, which he struggled to pay back, adding: “This amounted to a level of stress and depression for Ricki.”
Senior corner Crispin Butler heard Mr Weeks was seen on CCTV at the railway station on the day of his death buying a ticket and walking up and down platform 3.
David Job, who was driving the train that hit Mr Weeks, said in a statement that he was driving to London Marylebone and was not scheduled to stop at High Wycombe station.
He said: “At around 8.10am, I arrived at High Wycombe station. I wasn’t going to stop at the station.
“I then saw a male jumping off the platform and running straight at me. I applied the emergency brake but it was too late.”
He said the train was travelling at around 60mph at the time.
Mr Butler said: “Ricki would have died immediately. He wouldn’t have suffered at all as a result of this.”
The medical cause of death was recorded as multiple injuries due to a collision with the train, and Mr Butler recorded a conclusion of suicide saying: “It was a deliberate act set against a background of recent financial and employment issues.
“It is very clear from what the driver and police have said that this was not a fall or a trip or a stumble, but a very deliberate act.
“He intended to take his own life when he jumped in front of the train.”
After his death, Mr Weeks' loved ones set up a JustGiving page to raise £4,500 and give Ricki the "funeral he deserves".
For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for more details.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel