German national team goalie Robert Enke was killed after being hit by a train at a crossing near his home in an apparent suicide. He had only returned to action for Bundesliga club Hannover on Sunday.

"We are all shocked," said the national team's general manager, Oliver Bierhoff. "We are lost for words."

Joerg Neblung, a close friend and adviser of the the 32-year-old Enke, confirmed that it was suicide.

The incident happened at a crossing near Enke's home in Neustadt-Eilvese.

Hannover president Martin Kind said the goalkeeper had been "unstable" recently.

In 2006, Enke's daughter Lara died of a rare heart condition when she was two. Enke is survived by his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter they had adopted.

Enke had been diagnosed with a bacterial stomach virus several weeks ago and did not play for Hannover for two months. Nonetheless, he was considered a strong candidate to start for Germany at the 2010 World Cup.