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Mystery of City banker who threw himself in front of train
Peter Dominiczak5 Aug 2009
A successful City banker threw himself to his death in front of a rush-hour commuter train hours before a dinner date with his wife.
Carl Pereira, 36, an acquisitions manager at Allied Irish Bank, was killed instantly by the 75mph express as it sped through Wimbledon station.
He had phoned in sick to work then told his wife, Gemma, he was going for a walk and would meet her later for dinner.
Mr Pereira's death was today described as a “mystery”. He had been apparently coping well with the pressures of his job and had no history of psychiatric illness.
When he leapt into the path of the train on 3 April this year, Mr Pereira, despite not being known as a heavy drinker, was nearly five times the legal driving limit, an inquest at Westminster coroner's court heard yesterday.
His devastated wife, a nursery worker, set up a tribute site on Facebook immediately after her husband's death.
Writing on the networking website, Mrs Pereira said: “Carl you were such an amazing and special person. You will be missed so much by so many people.
“I miss you so much everyday but always have you in my heart. Thanks for everything and for all the amazing memories. Love you always, your wife Gemma.”
Mr Pereira was born in India and grew up in Melbourne, Australia.
He met Gemma in 1999 and they married in 2007. The pair lived in a large terrace house in Wimbledon.
Mr Pereira's boss at Allied Irish, David Lock, today described him as “a strong professional”.
He said he had been acting normally in the weeks before the tragedy but had been working around the clock on a major project.
“He was working hard, but seemed able to cope and remained pro-active,” he said. “The news of his death took me by complete surprise.”
On the day of his death, Mr Pereira called in sick to work and phoned his wife at 1.45pm to tell her he was going for a walk because the weather was so good.
A little over three hours later, he was seen at Wimbledon railway station holding a blue plastic bag containing two cans of beer. Eyewitnesses described how he put the bag on the platform before leaping into the path of the train.
Mike Cullen, the train driver, said: “I was travelling at 75mph. The man was looking at me. Then he leapt in front of me, hitting the front windscreen of my train cab.”
Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe recorded an open verdict and said it was impossible to be sure what had led Mr Pereira to take the action he did.
Dr Radcliffe said: “There was no planning, he had no psychiatric history, he was obviously an intelligent, hard-working professional, a well liked person. So it's a slight mystery, I'm afraid. We are aware that working in certain areas of banking understandably can be very stressful, but he seems to have managed for a number of years, coping with the stress.”
Reader views (17)
i know carl very well , he was a very good bloke he was the last person i would of thought to do a thing like this , and sum of the harsh word ppl have said it just wrong and mariaane how can u sit there and say that when u didnt evan know him ,( i hate ppl that jumps infromt of traines) how selfish , what bout the persons thoughts , i fink u need to stop finking bout urself and fink of others , god help ur family if there ill . god only takes the good ones i know that 1st hand ,
carl rest in peace mate
sadley missed by me big time xxx
- Paul Smith, stanwell , london, 15/08/2009 12:43
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Poor CHAP + Bless HIM & his FAMILY
I remember the last time this happened in Wimbledon was in 1980's when MY mom was coming home from Work in Waterloo LONDON and somebody was pushed under a train by a MENTAL PATIENT.
We all have HARDSHIPS but a SUICIDE ending it is NOT THE WAY.
++ GOD gives us the strength to carry on ++
- Jude John Lobo, SURREY - UK, 06/08/2009 14:50
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God always takes the good ones.May his soul R.I.P
- Freddy, Goa-India, 06/08/2009 10:54
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! sad incident. Sometimes one wonders if life has more things to it then what we can only see. God?
- Kofinho, London, UK, 06/08/2009 01:59
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Why, in these stories, is there always a theme of "why would they kill themselves when they are rich?"
WHy does being wealthy, or being a successful investment banker, make life better? It's an empty occupation, which sucks up wealth, and does not create it.
If we cared about, and valued, truly worthwhile jobs and lives, sad events such as this would be less common.
- Paul, London, 05/08/2009 20:01
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Why do some say if only he had talked.
At the heart of capitalism - no-one wants to hear you say it's a poisoned chalice, everything is just a performance, you can't trust anyone, I am crying inside,
they are only interested in the show going on & on, strong professional, proactive, big house, west london..
- Oilthieves, bucks, 05/08/2009 18:22
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"His devastated wife, a nursery worker, set up a tribute site on Facebook immediately after her husband's death".
I am 60 years old. When I read the above, it brought home to me what a generation gap is.
- Coling, Doha, Qatar, 05/08/2009 18:05
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My thoughts go to this poor man's family and the train driver.
- Joanne, Surrey, 05/08/2009 17:26
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Yeah Marianne what an awful and selfish thing to say. At first I thought you were joking but you're actually serous which is really sad. Just think of the train driver who will live with the image of that man's face for the rest of his life.
- Shocked, London, 05/08/2009 14:49
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I read somewhere that suicide is contemplated for a month before auto-pilot takes over as it becomes unstoppable (and, indeed, it is said that the act itself is regarded as totally acceptable to the unfortunate person involved).
But it is the apparent normalness that is the real shaker - a work colleague of mine, who questioned me closely about my life and family in a curious way, killed himself the following day. It marked me beyond measure, and always will.
All one can do, I suppose, is keep a tight hold on the good memories of a lost one, for love conquers all.
- Ted, London, 05/08/2009 14:46
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Marianne why don't you go back to France. God help all your friends and family who obviously can't talk to you if they have any problems.
I feel desperately sorry for his wife but, also, for the poor train driver who has to cope with this.
I always think if only......
- Karenf, London, 05/08/2009 14:06
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Marianne, I doubt very much that this young man who tragically cut short his own life was up to considering the 'incovenience' of commuters. What a very silly thing to say.
Having worked in the 'fatalities and suicide' department of Railtrack, I understand only too well the devastation this causes the family of the deceased, as well as the train driver and other rail workers who have to witness the event.
Perhaps it was living in a world where we care so very little for one another that drove him to this kind of isolation, despite having a loving family. We will never know, which makes me even more sorry for his wife.
My condolences and thoughts to his family, friends and all those affected by this incident - except you, Marianne!
- Smb, London, UK, 05/08/2009 14:02
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Marianne your comments are totally out of order. You have no idea what was going through his mind and what his friends and family have had to go through since he took his own life.
My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
- Jg, London, 05/08/2009 13:15
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Such a shame. If only he had felt able to talk about how he was feeling. My heart goes out to his wife.
- Melanie, milton keynes, bucks, 05/08/2009 12:49
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I HATE people who jump under trains during rush hour. Even at this time can they not spare a thought for everyone else who has a mostly miserable journey home in packed carriages on delayed trains? (and that's before everything grinds to a standstill .....)
- Marianne, SW France/London, 05/08/2009 12:29
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What a sad story and how terible for the train driver.
- Helen, norwich, 05/08/2009 11:56
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What a bizarre story. No history of illness, no outward signs of unhappiness. What a tragic waste of a talented young life. And the poor train driver aswell having to experience that.
sad story.
- Alana Cunningham, London, 05/08/2009 11:46
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