A FORMER professional boxer was seen acting strangely moments before darting into the path of an oncoming lorry, an inquest heard.

Dennis Harbon, 68, suffered head and chest injuries and died at the scene on the A58 Whitehall Road at Scholes on March 1 this year.

Married Mr Harbon, a retired window cleaner who lived at Mayfield Place in Wyke, had a history of battling depression and his medication had recently been changed, the hearing was told.

Witnesses described seeing him at the side of the road suddenly running and flailing his arms before jumping in front of the lorry.

The inquest in Bradford yesterday heard the lorry driver swerved and braked but was left powerless to avoid hitting Mr Harbon.

Shocked bystanders tried to help him, with one praying for him, until emergency services arrived.

Mr Harbon, a Jehovah’s Witness, had been due to go to a bible teaching session that morning but had cancelled.

His wife Amanda Harbon told Assistant Bradford Coroner Kirsty Gomersal her husband had been having good and bad days in the run up to his death but she had not thought it was bad enough for him to take his own life.

Mr Harbon left three notes of apology at his home which led investigating officers to treat his death as a deliberate act, PC Luke Mitchell told the hearing.

Summing up, Assistant Coroner Ms Gomersal said “much-loved” Mr Harbon had deliberately jumped in front of the lorry and concluded that his death was suicide.

Mr Harbon boxed professionally from 1973 to 1975 at welterweight and light middle weight taking part in 14 bouts.