A 'perfect GP' hanged himself 10 days before his sick son was due to have a kidney transplant, an inquest was told.
Dr John King, 51, became severely depressed after his son Michael was diagnosed with renal failure, the Daily Mail reports.
His wife Pamela discovered him in the garage of their house in Congleton, Cheshire.
The hearing was told the GP was badly affected when Michael was diagnosed with kidney problems.
He had twice previously threatened to kill himself after putting a knife to his neck. Despite having no history of mental health issues, Dr King was taken to a health centre in March last year where he admitted to doctors he was developing suicidal thoughts.
Dr Pamela King, 52, who is also a GP and had been married to her husband for 25 years, described how she had cuddled Dr King the night before.
"The following morning, I went to work. I had asked him 'What are you going to do today?' He just smirked and said 'I'm doing dusting aren't I?' I came back home and then I found him," she said.
Dr King was described as an 'old school' doctor who talked at length with patients about their conditions rather than 'bat them away with pills'.
Dr King's mental state began to deteriorate and he was on sick leave from Biddulph Hospital.
"His mental state deteriorated rapidly. He had low mood and was getting upset about trivial matters. He suffered low confidence and negative thinking," his wife said.
He spent time in hospital and when he came out received continued care from the mental health team but social workers said he did not want to engage in treatment.
He felt particularly anxious as the family waited for news on whether Michael could have a kidney transplant.
Dr Pamela King said: "He didn't think he was ever going to get better. In his own mind, there was never any glimmer of hope.
"If I told him he was getting better, he didn't want to hear it. He didn't engage with the mental health team."
The family were told Michael's operation would take place on September 21, but Dr King took his own life on September 11.
Recording a verdict of suicide by hanging Coroner Dr Janet Napier told Mrs King: "He wasn't himself in any way at all. This must have been horrifying - I can't imagine how awful it was for you."