A DAD took his own life after a rekindled relationship with his high school sweetheart turned sour, a coroner has ruled.

David Gaskell was reported missing by his family on January 12 of this year. Just two days later his body was found washed up on the beach near Roa Island by a member of the public.

At an inquest on Wednesday the 48-year-old's boss, Claire Hughes, described how he had been worried about the future of his job after his hours working as a delivery driver for the British Heart Foundation were cut.

The coroner, Dr Nicholas Shaw, also heard Mr Gaskell had been scared of losing his job following some suggestion he had stolen from his employer.

PC Michael Climpson was the first officer on the scene when the body was discovered.

"The body was lying face down on the sand," the officer said.

"There was no ID in his pockets but we liaised with Lancashire who provided details of a missing person from Morecambe."

A statement from Mr Gaskell's ex-girlfriend, Wendy Rothwell from Wigan, revealed the couple had separated just weeks before his death.

"I met David at high school in 1981; we dated for 18 months but lost touch when we left school," she said.

The couple got back together 30 years later after meeting at a school reunion but the relationship ended because of Mr Gaskell's paranoia and cannabis and alcohol use.

The inquest heard Mr Gaskell had a lengthy history of mental health problems and had taken an overdose just days before he went missing.

Members of Mr Gaskell's family, who live in Bryn near Wigan, travelled to Kendal for the inquest at County Hall in Kendal.

Dr Shaw concluded: “David Gaskell was depressed following the breakdown of a relationship and feared he would lose his job. Despite treatment from the GP he entered the water with suicidal intent.”

Dr Shaw also confirmed the cause of death was immersion in water.

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