A city executive with “everything to live for” jumped in front of a train shortly after quitting his job to spend more time with his family, an inquest heard.
Jay Kantaria, 38, who had held a senior position at Baring Asset Management in Bishopsgate, leapt onto the tracks at his local rail station.
His wife Monica, a senior auditor at JP Morgan Chase, told North London coroner’s court: “He had everything to live for. He was looking forward to his daughter’s birthday party the following week. There is no reason I have to believe that he intended his life to come to an end.”
CCTV cameras captured Mr Kantaria leaping from the platform at Sudbury Hill Harrow station as the Chiltern Line train sped through at 85mph.
Train driver Michael Hughes told the court in Barnet how Mr Kantaria went feet-first “as if he was doing a long jump” in front of the train.
He added that he felt no impact but immediately activated the emergency brake and called for help. Mr Kantaria died instantly of a brain injury.
He had only recently left his senior position at the investment management firm to start a career in property development. Mrs Kantaria told the Standard: “We are in shock. He was a doting dad — he loved his children. He was a family man and very popular with friends. He was always thinking of others, a wonderful man.”
Detective Constable Terry Hancocks, of British Transport Police, said: “The gentleman had just given up his job to spend more time with his wife and children and it was completely out of character. As far as the family are concerned, it was out of the blue.”
Mr Kantaria, who was born in Nairobi, studied at London School of Economics and also worked at Wellington Management and Halbis Capital Management. Coroner Andrew Walker said Mr Kantaria had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his death, on October 20 last year, and had not suffered any known psychiatric problems.
He expressed his “deepest sympathies” to Mr Kantaria’s family and said: “In the circumstances, I think there is a doubt in my mind about what his intention was, so I am going to leave the conclusion open. There is no evidence to suggest he was at risk of bringing his life to an end. He had everything to live for and it just doesn’t seem to make sense.”
A JustGiving appeal set up in memory of Mr Kantaria has raised more than £3,000 for the St Luke’s Hospice for Harrow and Brent. To contribute visit justgiving.com/Jay-Kantaria.
For confidential support, the Samaritans helpline on 08457 909090 is open 24 hours a day.
