Young rugby star chooses euthanasia

The parents of a paralysed 23-year-old rugby player who is believed to be the youngest Briton to take his life at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland defended his decision on Friday.

Daniel James died on September 12, an inquest heard last month.

The former England under-16 rugby player was paralysed from the chest down in March last year when a scrum collapsed on top of him, dislocating his spine.

His parents said he had never come to terms with his extreme physical incapacity, that he regarded his shattered body as “a prison” and repeatedly expressed his wish to die.

Julie and Mark James, from Worcester in central England, issued a statement saying their son was “an intelligent young man of sound mind” who was “not prepared to live what he felt was a second-class existence”.

They said he tried “several” times to kill himself before he “gained his wish”.

“His death was an extremely sad loss for his family, friends and all those that care for him but no doubt a welcome relief from the ‘prison’ he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence, as a result of which he took his own life.

“This is the last way that the family wanted Dan’s life to end but he was, as those who know him are aware, an intelligent, strong-willed and some say determined young man.”

Police said they had been in contact with a man and a woman—believed to be James’ parents—following the death, but gave no further details.

Reports said police were preparing a file of evidence for consideration by prosecutors.

It is illegal to help someone commit suicide in Britain, but assisted suicide is tolerated by the Swiss authorities.

The Zurich-based Dignitas clinic, where all known assisted suicides of Britons have taken place, does not disclose the identities of people who have taken their lives with its help. - AFP