A woman watched her lover kill himself over the internet during a long-distance phone call on Skype.
Adrian Rowland, 53 produced a knife and cut his own throat during the call with Julie Zalinski while in India on business.
Zalinski, more than 7,000 miles away in Reading, Berkshire frantically rang 999. British police then contacted Indian medical authorities, but the father-of-three died before medics could reach him.
Rowland was a firm director for for Adwest Engineering and was in India as part of his job. A high achiever, he previously held top jobs in engineering and also had an important position managing a factory for ex-Formula One team Jordan.
A friend told the Sun:
“I heard they were having a discussion about their relationship.”
“They were talking on Skype when he suddenly produced a knife and cut himself in front of her.”
“It must have been the most horrendous thing imaginable. She was 7,000 miles away, unable to do anything to help him. It’s just terrible.”
A spokesperson for the Thames Valley Police said: "Officers attended an address in Reading to obtain information that could be passed on to the Indian authorities via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and provide reassurance to the woman who made the report to us.
"The man was traced, but regrettably was later pronounced dead by doctors in India. Officers attended the address to inform the woman."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a British national died in India on November 27.
"Staff are in touch with next of kin and are providing consular assistance."