A VERGER who devoted 25 years to York Minster took his own life by stepping off the north west tower and falling 60 feet, an inquest has heard.

What drove John Robert Angus to commit suicide remained a mystery at the inquest into his death yesterday, but the coroner, Donald Coverdale, said it was "clearly a deliberate act".

Mr Angus, who would have turned 59 today, was not known to have had any serious worries before he jumped. His brother, Charles, with whom he lived in St Mary's, Bootham, York, said he was still at a loss as to why he killed himself on Sunday, February 27.

"I wish you could throw some light on it," he told the coroner.

He described his brother as a private man who had suffered from bouts of depression during his life and had admitted about 20 years ago contemplating stepping off the top of a fire escape.

However, Mr Angus said he had not spoken of any concerns or of harming himself before his death.

The inquest at New Earswick Folk Hall yesterday heard that Mr Angus died from multiple injuries caused by the fall. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement, Matthew Stokes, of Leeds, who had been visiting York that day, said: "I was looking at the centre of the two towers when movement caught my eye. I shifted my glance to the left tower... I saw a male stepping over a foot-high wall and fall off the tower itself. He did not propel himself in any way. He just walked off the edifice. He was not flailing his arms in any way. I would have to say he looked relaxed."

Another visitor, Victoria Fernoux, from Devon, reported: "I was looking up at the Minster. I saw what appeared to be a man. He appeared to be walking towards the edge of the Minster - then without stopping he walked straight off."

Stephen Wilkinson, a member of the Minster Police who had known Mr Angus for more than seven years said he "appeared his normal self" that day. He asked Mr Wilkinson for the key that provides access to the Minster towers.

Mr Wilkinson explained: "It was not unusual for him to sign that key out."

But he said: "As far as I am aware there would be no reason or need for John to go out on that balcony."

Det Con Richard Gray, a crime scene investigator at York, said he found no hazard on the balcony that would have caused Mr Angus to trip or slip.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Donald Coverdale said it was clear that Mr Angus deliberately stepped off the tower and must have expected the "inevitable consequence of dying from his injuries".

"There was a parapet that he had to climb to step off. I have dismissed the possibility of this being an accident. There's no question of the stonework being slippery. He had no real reason to be at that height of the Minster."

Updated: 10:00 Wednesday, June 29, 2005