Eastbourne's coastguard saw Gregory Crowhurst, 56, of Ingrams Avenue run over the edge at 7.30am on July 29 last year.

Coroner Alan Craze told family members gathered at Eastbourne Magistrates Court they could not have done any more to help him.

The inquest heard Bexhill-born Mr Crowhurst, who loved the sea, moved back to the town last July after living in Bishop's Stortford for around 30 years.

But he quickly regretted the move and sunk into depression, telling his sister, Annette Fuller, also of Bexhill, that he did not know where his future lay, and revealing that he was having suicidal thoughts.

Mrs Fuller said: "He loved people and loved the outdoor life.

"He made friends quite easily and travelled quite a bit, but frequently went over the mistakes in his life and felt a bit of a failure."

Ten days before his death Mr Crowhurst, who was not married, joined a family barbecue in St Leonards, where he was "extremely quiet and withdrawn".

Days later, Mrs Fuller spoke to him after his move to their mother's house in Ingrams Avenue.

She said: "I noticed that he was clasping his hands together very tightly and he said he was depressed.

"He said he wished he had someone to share his life with.

"I asked him how bad the depression was and if he had had suicidal thoughts and he said he had.

"My parting words were, remember Gregory, you won't always feel like this. It will get better."

Beachy Head coastguard Don Ellis, who spotted Mr Crowhurst walking near the cliff-edge, said: "As we got to the brow the person had got to the cliff edge.

"I said, 'Not a very nice day is it?' and he said 'No'. We were about 20 metres from the cliff, then he ran over."

The post-mortem examination at Eastbourne District General Hospital revealed external injuries as well as multiple fractures and lacerations from his fall.

Coroner Alan Craze said: "It's so sad that he didn't just go the extra day or two days and get the help he so obviously needed.

"As the family I don't believe you could have done anything else at all to prevent this."

Mr Craze recorded a verdict of suicide.

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