Top News

A British mum with no terminal illness has died at a clinic in Switzerland today after making the heartbreaking decision to end her life following the death of her only son, Marcus. Wendy Duffy, 56, who had previously said she "can't wait" for the moment, paid £10,000 to the assisted dying clinic Pegasos.

The former care worker from the West Midlands said she had not been able to recover from losing her son Marcus, 23, four years ago, despite years of therapy and antidepressants. Speaking days before her death, Wendy said: "I won't change my mind. I know it's hard for you, sweetheart. It will be hard for everyone. But I want to die, and that's what I'm going to do. And I'll have a smile on my face when I do, so please be happy for me. My life; my choice." She added: "I can't wait."

The heartbroken mum had written letters to family as well as choosing what music to play on her deathbed, including Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars 'Die With A Smile.'

She previously said on the day of her death she would be wearing a t-shirt belonging to Marcus, adding that "it still smells of him".

She had asked for the clinic's large windows to be left open so her spirit can be free. Her belongings, including her suitcase, will be donated to an animal charity.

She will be cremated in Switzerland. Her ashes will be returned to her family in the UK and scattered alongside Marcus's at a park bench dedicated to him.

During an interview with Daily Mail journalist Jenny Johnson, Wendy explained how she lost Marcus four years ago.

He had fallen asleep on the sofa while eating a cheese and onion sandwich with tomatoes that Wendy had made him after he came home hungover from a night out. Shortly afterwards, she was faced with every parent's worst nightmare.

He had choked on half a cherry tomato, which became lodged in his windpipe.

Wendy, who is medically trained, got Marcus to the floor and began CPR, screaming for help. Paramedics arrived and rushed him to hospital.

"They think he must have fallen asleep when he still had food in his mouth. That's the only comfort, that there was no struggle," she said.

Wendy sat with him for five days before his life support was switched off. His organs were donated for transplant.

"Afterwards, I got a letter from the man who got his heart. He said that thanks to Marcus he was able to play with his kids again," she said. Another recipient was a four-year-old child. "That was a comfort, but it also ripped at me."

"I did try to get better," she said. "But you can take all the pills, you can go to all the counselling in the world - and I did. Ultimately, they can't help you.

"They don't have to live your life, and my life is agony. Even though I've got family, I've got friends, I've got my routines. I go to the park.

"I'm not lonely, but I still sit at night and I talk to Marcus, and I kiss the box I had made for his ashes and I say 'goodnight, sunshine' and I think 'I don't want to be in this world without you, Markie'. And I don't. It's as simple as that."

Pegasos founder Ruedi Habegger confirmed earlier this week that Wendy had passed her final psychiatric assessment.

"Wendy is very decided. I saw her at her hotel today, I had a long talk with her and with the psychiatrist that is going to see her a second time before the VAD [voluntary assisted death]. He is very confident that we are doing the right thing letting her go, that we should not stand in her way. She is absolutely not in a depressive state. I'm very experienced in this field. There are no worries with Wendy, none at all," he said at the time.

He confirmed four of her siblings had been informed and given their blessing.

If you are affected by issues discussed within this article, or you are struggling, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. The Samaritans are here to help, day or night, 365 days a year.