An inquest was opened this week into the sudden death of Dan Kirby, founder of Trade Price Cars in Wickford, Essex and co-founder of brokerage Octane Finance who died in September.

The businessman and part-time racing driver, who had competed in the British Touring Car Championships in the past, was found unresponsive at an address in Chelmsford just a month before his 38th birthday.

An inquest opening at Essex Coroner's Court was told that a post mortem revealed the cause of death has been provisionally determined as hypoxic brain injury and asphixiation caused by hanging.

The inquest opening heard that paramedics did everything they could for Kirby, a married father of two, to resuscitate him before taking him to critical care experts at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Essex Live reports that area coroner Michelle Brown said: "He continued to deteriorate and care was withdrawn. His death was sadly confirmed at 6.50am and cause of death was a provisional 1A hypoxic brain injury and 1B asphyxiation by hanging."

• Organisations such as motor industry charity Ben (Helpline 08081 311 333 and website ben.org.uk) and CALM (Helpline 0800 585858 and website calmzone.net) and Samaritans (Helpline 116 123 and website samaritans.org) are willing to listen and to help whenever someone is struggling or feeling they can no longer cope.