A PORT crane driver "who never got over" splitting with his partner was seen to jump deliberately from a ferry, an inquest has heard.

Alan Stafford, a port operator at Portsmouth Naval Base for BAE Systems, was seen to jump from the St Cecilia Wightlink ferry which left Portsmouth for the Isle of Wight at 10.30am on August 29 last year.

Detective Sergeant Marcus Mills, of Hampshire Police, told the Portsmouth hearing: "A male was seen to jump from the ferry into the water.

"Coastguard and other craft assisted with the search but no body was found."

The body of the 58-year-old was spotted in the water on September 3 about a quarter of a mile from Gilkicker Point at Gosport and was recovered by a Ministry of Defence Police boat.

Witness Victor Thanayagam, who was travelling with his family, saw Mr Stafford jump over the railings from the ferry.

He said: "I saw this guy coming, the first time he tried to jump, he slipped, the second time he jumped, he climbed over the railings.

"My wife and everyone was screaming. It was very, very fast."

Mr Stafford's sister, Katherine Upsall, told the hearing that her brother had suffered from depression issues since he came out as gay as a child but said he had a long-term relationship as an adult.

She said: "They were together for 25 years, then he left him for a woman and I do not think he got over it."

She added: "We think he had felt there was nowhere he could go with his life at his age, being gay is not easy to find a partner.

"We knew him as happy Alan and I feel we should have picked up on that."

Coroner David Horsley said a post-mortem examination showed Mr Stafford died as a result of drowning and recorded a verdict that he had taken his own life.

He said: "Quite clearly he has had enough and intended to end his life. We must recognise the emotional and health issues. I think he was suffering from long-standing depression."

Mr Stafford, from Southsea, had five sisters who have paid tribute to him, saying he was "lovely" and a "kind-hearted gentle and caring" man.