Suicide By Chainsaw

This is just unreal. Certainly not advocating suicide by any means, but dude, there are easier, less messy ways to go.

A wealthy businessman killed himself with a chainsaw while on holiday with his wife and children after being overwhelmed by a series of illnesses in the family.

Roger Kirman, who was a marketing executive for toiletries and food multinational Unilever, was found lying on the bathroom floor in their isolated converted barn in the Lake District.

The 45-year-old, a fitness fanatic who took part in triathlons, is thought to have been on an Easter break with his wife Penelope and their three young children when his body was discovered.

Mr Kirman left a note to his family apologising for what he had done, and an inquest ruled that he had committed suicide while suffering from intense stress.

The couple, who live in Wimbledon, south-west London, were staying at their farmhouse near Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, when his body was found on April 2.

Police who examined the scene said Mr Kirman had suffered massive neck injuries when he turned the chainsaw on himself in the bathroom of the house.

Sergeant Rupert Johnston, who attended the bloodbath, told the hearing: 'I found Mr Kirman lying on the floor. The injuries were horrendous.

'They were down the right-hand side of his neck. It was obvious no-one else was involved.'

A note apologising to his family was found, although the details were not read out.