February 19, 2001 10:05: DEPRESSED accountant Ivan Channer had been talking about 'wanting to die' only hours before he took his own life by hanging himself, an inquest heard.

Tom Grace, assistant deputy coroner for Buckinghamshire, returned a verdict of suicide on the cause of death after a High Wycombe inquest was told how the 58-year-old was found by his wife hanging from the top of the bannisters.

Betty Ann Channer, of Clayfields, in Tylers Green, wept as she told the inquest on Thursday how she found her husband hanging from a rope when she returned home after visiting a nearby relative. Geraldine Trickett, coroner's officer, had to finish reading a statement made by Mrs Channer which described how her husband, an assistant financial accountant, had been depressed on the morning of October 15.

She said he had been following her around the house and had kept telling her 'he wanted to die' but she thought he might calm down if she left to visit a relative.

Mrs Channer added she had been very concerned about his comments because 12 years earlier he had tried to take his life by jumping off the bridge in Marlow and had only been saved when some passing canoeists spotted him.

However, when she returned to the house after her visit, at around 3.30pm, she discovered her husband hanging from the balustrade.

Mr Grace told the inquest: "The deceased was obviously depressed and talking about dying that day, even wanting to die himself."

The inquest heard that Mr Channer had a history of depression.

Syreeta Lund