A 15-YEAR-OLD boy was among rail users who saw a man leap to his death in front of a train, an inquest heard.

The teenager was one of three people on the opposite platform when former hospital worker Phillip Perkins jumped into the path of a train travelling at 90mph.

Mr Perkins, 62, died instantly when he collided with a non-stop Eastleigh to Bournemouth train at Hinton Admiral station on the morning of Sunday October 1 last year.

Assistant Dorset coroner Brendan Allen was told that Mr Perkins, who lived at Avenue Road in Christchurch, was "heartbroken" following the death of his wife of 28 years, Susan, eight months earlier.

Family member Lisa McKay told the Bournemouth inquest: "He always seemed to be more concerned about other people. He was definitely suffering."

And friend David Staines added: "He was almost putting on too brave a face. He was private about his feelings and I think he kept a lot of it in."

The inquest heard that Mr Perkins was last seen by a neighbour on the evening of September 30.

Police were called to the quiet, rural station at 9.15am the following morning.

In a statement to the court, witness James Underwood said he and two other people, including a 15-year-old boy, were waiting on platform one when they saw Mr Perkins alone on the opposite platform.

He heard the train's horn sound and realised Mr Perkins was not on the platform after the train had passed.

Mr Allen concluded that Mr Perkins died as the result of suicide.