Peter and Christine Scott, a married couple who are 86 and 80 respectively, are the first British people to sign up to an extremely controversial double 'suicide pod' in Switzerland - and there's a heartbreaking reason why.
The pair hope to 'die in each other's arms' in the Sarco death capsule, as per the Mail on Sunday.
The couple have been married for 46 years and share six grandchildren.
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Peter, a former RAF engineer and Christine, a retired nurse, decided to embark upon the end-of-life journey following Christine's recent diagnosis of early-stage vascular dementia.
Peter explained: "We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are in old age and it does not do nice things to you.
"The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris' mental abilities in parallel to my own physical decline is horrific to me."
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He continued: "Obviously I would care for her to the point I could not, but she has nursed enough people with dementia during her career to be adamant she wants to remain in control of herself and her life.
"Assisted dying gives her that opportunity and I would not want to go on living without her.
"We understand other people may not share our feelings and we respect their position. What we want is the right to choose. I find it deeply depressing we can't do that here in the UK."
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Peter added: "Yet look at the alternative. The chances of getting prompt NHS treatment for the ailments of old age seem pretty remote so you end up trapped by infirmity and pain.
"I don't want to go into care, to be lying in bed dribbling and incontinent - I don't call that a life.
"Finally, the Government swoops in to take your savings and your house to pay for it all."
The Sarco pods were created for the use of assisted suicide and in 2021, passed an independent legal review in Switzerland.
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The portable capsules, which are made with 3D-printing technology by Exit International, would take approximately 10 minutes to end a life.
Death is caused by the Sarco pods filling with nitrogen.
This subsequently causes the rapid reduction of oxygen levels, leaving the person inside to lose consciousness before passing away.
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Christine said of her decision, and her plan for her last days in Switzerland: "I’d like to go walking with Peter in the Swiss Alps, by a river. I’d have a beautiful plate of fish for my last supper, and enjoy a great bottle of Merlot.
"I’d make a playlist including 'Wild Cat Blues' and 'The Young Ones' by Cliff Richard and I’ve found a poem called Miss Me But Let Me Go, which sums up exactly how I feel."
She continued: "It's a lovely life but I have this diagnosis, and that's crystallised our thinking.
"Medicine can slow vascular dementia but it can't stop it. At the point I thought I was losing myself, I'd say: 'This is it, Pete, I don't want to go any further'."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Topics: UK News, News, World News, Mental Health, Health, NHS
Kya Buller