THE death of Dan James, the promising rugby player who travelled to a Swiss clinic to kill himself after being paralysed in a training accident, was a terrible tragedy.

The 23-year-old, from Sinton Green near Worcester, dislocated his spine when a scrum collapsed on him in March last year. He was left paralysed from the chest down.

It is hard to imagine the effect of such an injury on a strong, fit, healthy young man. In Dan’s case the result was a desire to end his own life.

He gained his wish after several suicide attempts when he travelled with his parents Julie and Mark to a clinic in Switzerland. They are now the subjects of a police investigation.

Dan’s death is an extraordinarily private matter but its nature is a matter of public interest because of the debate surrounding the legality of assisted suicides. This is evident by the huge national media interest following our exlcusive report last Friday morning.

This newspaper had been aware of how Dan chose to die for some weeks. Last Friday we took the decision to publish what we knew for a number of reasons.

Firstly, an inquest had been opened and adjourned. Secondly, the police confirmed an investigation had begun. The matter was therefore in the public domain and we had a duty to report it.

We had hoped to do so with the cooperation of Mr and Mrs James. They chose not to provide this – a decision that is their right and that we respect.

This is a private tragedy but, as we have said, a matter of public interest.

Kevin Ward
Editor

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