A former marine engineer was drunk when he ducked under a moving lorry and died instantly, a coroner heard today.

CCTV footage showed 35-year-old Liam Roche walking along Wimbledon Bridge on the evening of April 28 last year and suddenly breaking into a run approaching a stationary heavy goods vehicle outside Lush by Wimbledon Station.

Unemployed Mr Roche, who had mental health issues and had been to the Wimbledon Job Centre earlier that day for a back to work assessment, disappeared from view and was found a short time later with ‘severe, un-survivable head injuries’ in the middle of the road.

Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox heard Mr Roche had been drinking with his father at a Wetherspoons’ Wibbas Down Inn in nearby Gladstone Road, Wimbledon, when he left unannounced and walked up to the junction at Hartfield Road.

Witness Jessica Butler, who had been working at Du Cane dry cleaners in Wimbledon Bridge, said she thought Mr Roche had been running to catch a bus when he was struck by the lorry at 7.53pm.

Police collision investigators found Mr Roche, who was single and lived with his father in Feltham Hill Road, Ashford, had ducked underneath the Dairy Crest lorry as it moved off towards the Broadway.

The driver, Ian Floodgate, had been unaware he had run over anyone and said in Westminster Coroner's Court he was shocked when he was stopped by Oliver Webber further down the road.

Mr Webber, who had been driving a black pick-up truck behind the lorry, saw Mr Roche’s body in the road and flagged down Mr Floodgate.

Both drivers then returned and spoke to police.

Dr Wilcox heard Mr Roche had twice the legal limit of alcohol for driving in his bloodstream - 175mg per 100mls recorded by Dr Rebecca Andrews.

There were also ‘therapeutic’ levels of anti-depressant medication in his system, consistent with his history of depression.

He had been under the care of mental health services in the past, and attempted suicide by over-dose eight years ago.

Dr Wilcox heard Mr Roche had a history of alcohol dependency.

He had been unemployed at the time but had previously worked as a marine engineer and electrician.

Correspondence between police and the coroner’s office is being investigated by Dr Wilcox after detective sergeant John Hartfree said staff at the coroner's office had not responded to six emails requesting help after Job Centre staff would not answer questions about what had happened during the victim’s appointment on the day he died.

Detective sergeant John Hartfree said: “The Job Centre said there was nothing to suggest he was suicidal.

"His father did not raise any concerns.

"The Job Centre wouldn’t talk to us.

"On the phone before this they said there was no cause for concern.

"It was something we tried to progress to the coroner.

"We didn’t get a reply after six emails."

Dr Wilcox said she would follow it up with the manager.

Dr Wilcox made it clear the lorry driver Mr Floodgate, heading from a Dairy Crest depot in Gap Road, was not at fault and could not have known Mr Roche went under the wheels because there would have only been 1.5 seconds when he was visible.

Dr Wilcox said: "The vehicle was being driven in a perfectly proper manner by Mr Floodgate.

"In my view it is most likely, supported by CCTV evidence that he ran to the vehicle and ducked down underneath it."

Dr Wilcox said Mr Roche would have been killed instantly and suffered un-survivable injuries including facial fractures, head injuries and broken ribs.

Dr Wilcox said: "He deliberately went to the vehicle.

"I can’t be satisfied of his intention to take his own life - he was intoxicated with alcohol.

"It is not possible to infer whether this was a spontaneous and impulsive act or if it was a considered and determined act."

Dr Wilcox recorded a narrative verdict and found Mr Roche died from multiple injuries and alcohol intoxication.