A former refugee whose body was found face down in the Thames was driven to his death by work pressures, debt and depression, his sister said.

Surrey County Council (SCC) employee Mahesh Kanani was discovered with two bricks strapped to his back under a pontoon, near Queen’s Promenade in Kingston, on April 13.

The 51-year-old had lived in Surrey since 1974 when he arrived in New Malden with his family as refugees from east Africa.

He was reported missing by colleagues on April 8, after he failed to turn up for work, West London Coroner’s Court heard at an inquest on Thursday, August 11.

Police found three printed pages on suicide methods taken from the internet at Mr Kanani’s home in Gordon Road, Kingston, when they visited on April 12.

Police also found his house, where he lived alone, had been repossessed.

Following the inquest Mr Kanani’s sister, Kay, said her brother had told her he was worried about redundancy at SCC, where he had worked for 31 years.

She said: “He had some sort of mental breakdown. He found it too distressing and let it get to him.

“He was a great brother, always cheerful and always trying to see the positive side of things.

“I am still in shock, I don’t think I have had a chance to digest it properly, it has been a rollercoaster.”

Mr Kanani was a former pupil of Beverley School, along with his brother, Shyam, who committed suicide in 1988.

Nick Wilson, Surrey County Council’s strategic director for children, schools and families, said: “Mahesh was a friend and valued colleague, who is sadly missed by all who worked with him.

“He had started a new role at the county council and we have no doubt he would have continued to work to the high standards he showed throughout more than 30 years with us.

“We do provide support for colleagues and we’re saddened more could not have been done to help Mahesh.

“Our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with his family and friends.”