Suicide Pod organisers describe moment woman was euthanised in capsule

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing

The final moments of an American woman who became the first person to die as a result of using the highly controversial Sarco 'suicide pod' have been revealed by the only person at the scene.

The unnamed 64-year-old woman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland on 23 September, which has sparked a criminal investigation.

The Sarco pod was created by Dr Philip Nitschke, the director of pro-euthanasia group Exit International. It is a 3D printed capsule, explicitly designed for use in assisted suicide.

Those inside the pod press a button, which causes the chamber to flood with nitrogen gas, reducing oxygen levels so rapidly that the person loses consciousness.

The Sarco pod has been used for the first time (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

This occurs within the first minute, giving the person a 'peaceful, reliable, and drug-free' death within 10 minutes.

Following the death of the 64-year-old on Monday, Florian Willet - co-president of assisted-suicide group Exit International’s Swiss affiliate the Last Resort - was the only witness to the woman’s death.

He described it as 'peaceful, fast and dignified.'

Yesterday, Nitschke said in a statement that he is 'pleased that the Sarco had performed exactly as it had been designed… to provide an elective, non-drug, peaceful death at the time of the person’s choosing'.

The final words the 64-year-old heard from the pod before pressing the button are reported to be 'if you want to die, press this button,' as per AFP.

The Sarco pod was created by Dr Philip Nitschke (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

Police confirmed on 24 September that 'several people' had been arrested following the death.

Investigating authorities said in a statement: "The public prosecutor's office of the canton of Schaffhausen was informed on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 4:40 p.m. by a law firm that an assisted suicide with the Sarco capsule had taken place in the afternoon at a forest hut in Merishausen.

"As a result, the Schaffhausen police, including the forensic emergency service, and the public prosecutor's office of the canton of Schaffhausen went to the scene of the crime.

"In addition, specialists from the Forensic Institute Zurich (FOR) and the Institute of Legal Medicine Zurich (IRMZ) were called in. The Sarco suicide capsule was secured and the deceased person was taken to the IRMZ for an autopsy."

They concluded: "In addition, several people in the Merishausen area were taken into police custody. The public prosecutor's office is also investigating the violation of other criminal offences."

Several people have been arrested following the death (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

Public prosecutor Peter Stitcher had previously warned that anyone assisting a patient to die as a result of using the Sarco pod could be liable to up to five years in prison.

He stated: “There is no reliable information about the method of killing. [It is] completely unclear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process.”

According to Swiss law and to Article 115 of the penal code, individuals can assist in another person's suicide as long as the motive for doing so is not 'selfish' - which is the exact word that Stitcher used to describe Nitschke's motivations behind his creation.

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