Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has become embroiled in further controversy after branding people who throw themselves under trains as "selfish".
The 51-year-old, who was forced to apologise earlier this week after saying all striking workers should be shot, reiterated his view that those who take their lives at railway stations cause "immense" disruption for commuters.
In his column in The Sun newspaper Clarkson said: "I have the deepest sympathy for anyone whose life is so mangled and messed up that they believe death's icy embrace will be better.
It is a very selfish way to go because the disruption it causes is immense
"However, every year around 200 people decide that the best way to go is by hurling themselves in front of a speeding train.
"In some ways they are right. This method has a 90% success rate and it's extremely quick.
"However, it is a very selfish way to go because the disruption it causes is immense.
"And think what it's like for the poor train driver who sees you lying on the line and can do absolutely nothing to avoid a collision."
Later in the article the presenter refers to those who choose to jump in front of trains as "Johnny Suicide" and argues that after a death trains should carry on their journeys as soon as possible.
Public sector workers gather for a rally outside Belfast City
The Top Gear host sparked outrage for calling for workers on strike to be 'shot'
He adds: "The train cannot be removed nor the line re-opened until all of the victim's body has been recovered. And sometimes the head can be half a mile away from the feet.
"Change the driver, pick up the big bits of what's left of the victim, get the train moving as quickly as possible and let foxy woxy and the birds nibble away at the smaller, gooey parts that are far away or hard to find."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, described the comments as "extraordinarily tasteless", especially in the wake of the death of footballer Gary Speed.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think it's extraordinarily tasteless in its tone.
"I think there will be many people who have lost loved ones to suicide and people who have contemplated suicide that will think it is in extremely bad taste.
"It stands out like a sore thumb from what is increasingly a more supportive approach to suicide by the media.
"People will feel like he is trivialising the subject and dismissing people who have taken their own lives."
Mr Farmer added: "This is a man who really doesn't understand what he is talking about."
Clarkson's comments have been criticised by suicide and mental health charities
The latest controversy comes in the wake of comments Clarkson made during BBC1's The One Show in which he said striking workers "should be shot".
Speaking about public sector workers who took industrial action he told the show's presenters: "I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.
"I mean, how dare they go on strike when they've got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living?"
Clarkson had first criticised train suicides during the same One Show appearance.
The presenter and the BBC were forced to apologise for the remark about strikers after it caused uproar among public sector unions and politicians, while attracting more than 21,000 complaints.
He also used his column in the Sun to justify the comment, saying that in his interview he backed the strikers "and then to make a point about the need for impartiality said they should be shot".
