A former Norfolk man whose "heart remained in England" took his own life while living in Australia, an inquest has heard.

Jonathan Merrall, who previously lived in Norfolk, was found dead in October in McLaren Vale, in the heart of South Australia's wine region.

Father-of-four Mr Merrall, 53, worked as a carpenter and lived in the town of Stirling, near Adelaide.

An inquest held at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard that at the time of his death, he was in the throes of a relationship breakdown with his second wife.

The court heard he had met his partner, Lauren Pittwood, in 2004 in Australia, but that the pair had lived together in Norfolk during the course of their relationship before returning Down Under.

But Ms Pittwood told the court the couple's relationship had grown sour and despite him reluctantly undergoing counselling, they started a six-month trial separation.

She said that Mr Merrall had frequently battled depression and that his behaviour become "erratic" - often commenting that he no longer wished to live in Australia.

She said: "His heart remained in England. He did not want to be in Australia.

"I encouraged him to ask for help (with his mental health) on multiple occasions but this was met with strong pushback."

Mr Merrall died on October 3, on a plot of land in a vineyard he hired for his woodwork business. The medical cause of his death was given as neck compression due to hanging.

Jacqueline Lake, Norfolk's senior coroner, concluded Mr Merrall's death to have been suicide.

She said: "He clearly had problems with his long-term partner and they had been seeking counselling and separated six weeks prior to his death, which he was finding difficult."

Mr Merrall was survived by four children, two adult age from a previous relationship.

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