The man was found dead in his car yesterday, with burned charcoal near him.

Sources said the man, Lee, was married for 12 years, with a son. He had been living separately from his wife for eight years, although they were not legally divorced.

Lee lived with a girlfriend in Yuen Long, but had another lover without his girlfriend's knowledge. He rented a village house for the lover in Pat Heung.

However, the lover committed suicide at their love nest a few months ago. Struck with grief, Lee drove from his home in Wang Tat Road, Yuen Long at around 11am on Sunday and parked his seven-seater vehicle opposite the rented village house where his lover once lived.

Police suspected Lee burned charcoal in his vehicle after closing all the windows.

A friend tried calling him to invite him to an event, but was unsuccessful. The friend then contacted Lee's girlfriend, who also could not reach Lee by phone.

However, a friend managed to find Lee's wife and they set out to look for him. After learning that Lee had a lover, they went to the lover's village house and found Lee's vehicle.

A report was made to the police at 2.34am yesterday, saying that Lee was found unconscious in a white vehicle parked in an open area in Pat Heung. Paramedics arrived at the scene and pronounced him dead.

Officers found the man lying in the middle of the vehicle and there was a pot filled with charcoal at the rear of the car.

Police also found a suicide note, in which Lee said he was upset because of his relationship problems.

With no evidence of foul play at the scene, the body was sent to the mortuary.

Another charcoal-burning suicide occurred earlier this week at Kwai Kin House, Kwai Fong Estate. A 48-year-old male, Chu, was found lying on the ground in a friend's bedroom, with a plate of charcoal burning beside him.

Chu was certified dead after paramedics arrived. Officers classified the case as a suicide.