By Staff Reporter

Last updated 13:06, Monday, 04 August 2008

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 the toiletries and food multi-national company 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, were staying at their farmhouse near Broughton-in-Furness, 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 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.

Pathologist Dr Marek Witowski told the hearing in Barrow that Mr Kirman had bled to death because of the severity of his wounds.

Mr Kirman, who joined Unilever after attending King’s College School, Wimbledon, rose to become head of marketing excellence.

He helped with strategies for brands ranging from Persil and Dove soap to Marmite and Hellman’s.

He also competed in the company’s triathlon every year.

Coroner’s officer PC Liz Gaskell said she had made inquiries with Unilever UK about Mr Kirman.

She said: “There had been quite a few illnesses in his family at the time, and the doctor at his workplace thought there may have been some delayed reaction to the stress of family illness and prescribed him with sleeping tablets.”

Recording a verdict of suicide, Ian Smith, the coroner for south and east Cumbria, said: “There is nothing to suggest he was anything other than in control of his mental faculties.

“The fact is Mr Kirman took his own life and knew what he was doing.”

After the hearing John Holme, the uncle of Mr Kirman’s wife, said: “He was a wonderful man.

“None of the family can believe that this happened or understand why it happened,” she said.