A POPULAR supermarket worker who never got over the death of his parents was found dead after plunging from a bridge.

ASDA worker Daryl Barnes fell the Itchen Bridge in Southampton after he became extremely stressed following the death of his parents.

Daryl, of Reynolds Road, Shirley, travelled to the bridge in the early hours of July 24.

The 54-year-old was discovered at Southampton Water Activity Centre, off Floating Bridge Road. Mr Barnes was found in his work uniform with thank you cards from customers and colleagues.

Emergency services were called to the scene, but he was pronounced dead at 7.55am.

A post-mortem concluded that Mr Barnes died of multiple injuries due to a fall from a height.

An inquest into his death in Winchester heard that Mr Barnes had worked for ASDA in Eastleigh and later Totton for 27 years.

His manager Jason Hughes said that the death of Mr Barnes’ mother two years ago had a “massive negative effect”.

He added that he was becoming agitated that he had to sort out his parents’ belonging

In his personal opinion, Mr Hughes said: “His dad had left the family possessions to charity and there was a lot of pressure from the solicitor to sort things out. He got extremely stressed over that.”

Mr Hughes told the hearing that conversations were previously had about Mr Barnes getting support.

But, the inquest heard, it was understood that he did not seek help for depression.

In tribute Mr Hughes said he was “really nice, extremely helpful [and] would do anything for anybody”.

At his funeral more than 250 people attended, including those from The Avenue St Andrew’s United Reformed Church where he was said to spend a lot of time.

Acting area coroner Samantha Marsh, concluding the inquest, said: “There is the suggestion that Daryl was perhaps suffering with some form of depression or low mood following the death of his parents, particularly his mother, some two years ago.

“To me it very much seems that the start of all of this was the death of his mother and dealing with the affairs of his parents.”

Ms Marsh concluded that Mr Barnes death was a suicide.