Former world judo champion sent final email saying 'this was my choice', inquest told
Former world judo champion Craig Fallon emailed his partner to say "this was my choice" before he was found dead in woodland, an inquest has heard.
A coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide by the father-of-one, at a hearingon Wednesday (30 October).
Judo coach Mr Fallon was found near the Wrekin, east Shropshire, on 15 July, Shropshire Coroner's Court heard.
The 36-year-old judoka, of Lawley Bank, Telford, had been reported missing by family members at 6pm the previous evening.
Senior coroner for Shropshire John Ellery said Mr Fallon had also told hispartner face to face, the previous day, that "she would never see him again".
Family members discovered Mr Fallon's vehicle at the bottom of the Wrekin but were unable to trace him.
A police search resumed at first light on 15 July and he was discovered a short time later and confirmed dead at 5.24am.
Mr Ellery said:
Mr Ellery added that Mr Fallon had sent "a long email" to his partner.
"I'm not going to read it out, as it's personal and private," he told thecourt. "But there's one line which I will, because it is relevant.
"Craig said, 'Remember, this was my choice'. That tells me it was notaccidental."
Mr Fallon - who won the -60kg title at the World Championships in 2005 and the European title the following year - was found dead less than five months after becoming head coach of the Welsh Judo Association (WJA).
He remains the last British judo fighter to win a world title following his winin Cairo.
Mr Fallon, who had a partner and son, is also one of only two British men -alongside Neil Adams - to hold the world and European titles at the same time.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion went on to represent Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, placing seventh.
Ipswich-born Mr Fallon retired from the sport in 2011.
After spending some time in Austria, he was appointed as head coach of the WJA in March.
After news of the death, British Judo performance director Nigel Donohue paid tribute to the "outstanding judo fighter of his generation".
He said: "It is with great shock to hear of the passing of Craig.
"Craig is a son and father, as well as an outstanding judo fighter of hisgeneration in world judo."
He praised Mr Fallon as a "fantastic ambassador" for the sport and "the mosttalented judoka I have ever had the pleasure to watch competing for GreatBritain".
Chief executive of the WJA Darren Warner said: "Our heartfelt sympathies are with his family during this difficult time.
"He was only with the organisation for a short time but was a joy to work withand will be sorely missed."