A dad wrote notes expressing sadness that his son lived in a different country, before taking his own life, an inquest has heard.
The body of Luca Angelico was found near the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, off Chapel Street, Wigan, on the morning of February 3.
Mr Angelico was born in Italy and also lived in Malta and Spain, before settling in Wigan several years ago, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.
Area coroner for Manchester West, Alan Walsh, told the court that the 36-year-old lived in the Poolstock area and worked at a warehouse in Warrington. Mr Angelico also occasionally picked up shifts at the Olive Garden Italian restaurant in Standish.
Two days before his death, on February 1, he took on a shift at the restaurant as a favour to his friend Michael Madani - who is the manager.
"He joked about cancelling a date so he could help me out," Mr Madani said.
"I don't know if this was a joke or the truth as he had a very friendly personality. I worked the shift with him and he seemed fine."
Following the shift, Mr Madani said that Mr Angelico posted an update on Facebook, which made it appear as if he was upset in some way.
A week earlier, on January 24, Mr Madani went on a road trip to Spain. Mr Angelico asked if he could join as his ex-partner and son Davide lived in Alicante.
Mr Madani said that they 'had a laugh' during the trip and that there were no causes for concern.
Upon meeting back up with Mr Angelico after he visited his ex-partner and son, Mr Madani said he was in good spirits.
He added: "He was very happy and was smiling."
Mr Angelico's ex-partner Silvia Organtini said that when he visited her, he had told her of some 'financial problems' and said that he had been 'down'.
She described Mr Angelico as "usually very cheerful and a very kind person".
Ms Organtini added: "He was very intelligent and had a fantastic memory.
"He would spend all of his spare time with friends and was always a proud man."
Mr Angelico's boss Darren Tatley said that the last time he saw him was on January 31.
During his shift, he went home early because his head 'felt fuzzy'.
Mr Tatley added that he was aware Mr Angelico was having some domestic problems. He said that he often talked about his ex-partner and son who lived abroad.
"He was a decent man and his death shocked the team," Mr Tatley said.
"He was well liked and will always be in their memories."
Mr Angelico's body was found hanged, by a man walking to work, at 7.30am on February 3.
Notes written in Italian were later found in Mr Angelico's home in Crown Street; the notes expressed sadness that his children lived in a different country. One also stated that his son Davide was the 'most important thing in his life'.
A toxicology report revealed that Mr Angelico had alcohol and cannabis in his system.
Prof Walsh told the court that the level of alcohol "could result in emotional instability" but said there was not enough evidence that the cannabis or alcohol was "directly implicated" in Mr Angelico's death.
Following a post mortem, the medical cause of death was recorded as suspension by ligature.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Prof Walsh said: "He was obviously very hard working, well-liked and intelligent.
"He was very private and proud. He was living away from his family and his children.
"From the handwritten notes, it's clear that he loved his children but was missing them and could not live so far away from family and children."
