A man was ready to start a new life before his sudden death.

Gregory Clarke's body was found by the Gravesend riverside hours before a flight was due to take him to Trinidad.

An inquest today heard the 45-year-old was anxious after missing a flight a week before his death.

He had moved in with his parents in Burch Road, Gravesend, after the loss of his job meant he could no longer keep up with mortgage payments.

DS Andrew Leventis told the inquest: "In April Mr Clark moved in with his parents. He was down about having to sell his home.

"His parents describe him as a very private person. He wanted to go to Trinidad for a few months to meet his family and get a new start."

After missing his first flight out there Mr Clarke booked another flight, he was understood to be anxious about missing the next one.

The night before his death he spoke to his mother about Trinidad and expressed anxiety about missing the flight once again, the inquest heard.

He left the house shortly after midnight on July 8 for a walk but did not return. Mr Clarke's father and sister went looking for him but could not find him.

The inquest heard Mr Clarke's family did not call police as they thought they had to wait 24 hours for him to be considered missing.

"There no evidence to support the hypothesis that Gregory Clarke intended to take his own life" - Roger Hatch

Mr Clarke's body was found in the River Thames the next morning.

RNLI took his body ashore while attempting to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at Royal Terrace Pier.

DS Leventis told coroner Roger Hatch the police suspect his death was a result of suicide, saying he was "down, depressed and concerned about the flight."

No suicide note was found.

A post mortem gave Mr Clarke's cause of death as immersion.

Roger Hatch said: "There no evidence to support the hypothesis that Gregory Clarke intended to take his own life.

"Equally there's no explanation as to how it was that he came to be found in the water by the Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend.

"Having regard to that lack of evidence I propose to record an open conclusion.

"May I express my sympathies."

• If you are struggling, please contact Samaritans on 116 123.

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