Former Tenerife goalie Robert Enke commits suicide in Germany

GERMAN international and former Tenerife goalkeeper Robert Enke committed suicide at the age of 32 on Tuesday November 10.

by James Tweedie

The Hannover captain had suffered from depression since 2003, His wife Teresa revealed at a press conference the next day.

Mr Enke was hit by a train near Neustadt-Eilvese in Germany. His car was parked a few yards from the track and his wallet was inside. Police confirmed that he had left a suicide note.

Mrs Enke said that her husband feared that their adopted daughter Leila would be taken into care if his illness became public.

Their biological daughter Lara died of a rare heart condition in 2006 at the age of two.

"Robert cared for Leila with love - until the end,” said Mrs Enke. "After Lara's death everything drew us closer together ... I tried to tell him that there is always a solution. I drove to training with him. I wanted to help him to get through it. But he didn't want to accept help any more."

His father and sport psychologist Dirk Enke told the British Guardian newspaper that his son first showed signs of depression and anxiety in 2002. He attributed his son's condition to playing in teams of older footballers from a young age.

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