The parents of a former rugby player who killed himself in a Swiss euthanasia clinic said today that they were “relieved” not to be facing charges over his death.
In a statement read out by their solicitor, Mark and Julie James described the "heartbreaking ordeal" of helping their son Daniel carry out his wish to die at the Dignitas clinic after a rugby accident left him paralysed from the chest down.
Speaking after Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams recorded a verdict of suicide in relation to the 23-year-old's death on September 12, solicitor Adrian Harling said: "My clients are not campaigning or fighting the cause of euthanasia or assisted suicide.
"They purely helped their son carry out his wishes.
"My clients are relieved that the Director of Public Prosecutions has come to this decision, a decision which many commentators will say is sensible in the circumstances.
"My clients hope that the decision may help others in a similar situation facing similar dilemmas.
"However, every case may, of course, be different and should be judged on its own merits.
"This is still a very distressing time for my clients. More so as we approach Christmas, a family time, and Dan's birthday thereafter."
The Crown Prosecution Service announced yesterday it would not be bringing charges against Mr and Mrs James, from Sinton Green, Worcester, who made payments to Dignitas, sent documents and made travel arrangements to take their son to Switzerland.
During the brief inquest hearing in Stourport-on-Severn, Mark James described the moment his son drank the medication that killed him.
He said: "We had to take Dan to see a doctor over there on two occasions and there had to be a break between seeing the doctor.
"They had to interview Dan to find out that everything was as Dan said it was."
He said the doctor prescribed medication that would end his life and the family went to an apartment in Zurich.
Mr James said: "A lady explained to Dan what was going to happen and asked Dan several times if that was his wishes, because she said when he takes this drink, obviously he will die.
"She asked did he want to proceed or have some time to think about what was going to happen to him.
"He said no. The drink was brought and he took it on his own."
The inquest was told that Mr James's cause of death was poisoning.
Mr Williams said: "Daniel travelled to a clinic in Switzerland where he killed himself.
"He died on September 12 2008 in Zurich, Switzerland.
"In light of information I have heard, I have no doubt of Dan's intention and therefore record the verdict that Daniel Mark James killed himself."
Mr Williams said there was nothing a coroner could say to Mr James's family to ease their pain but he offered his sincere condolences.
The inquest was told that Mr James died peacefully.
An accident in a scrum during training in March last year left Mr James paralysed from the chest down, with no independent hand or finger movement.
Eight months later his consultant said it was unlikely he would ever enjoy a significant recovery.
At the time of his accident, Mr James was in the third year of a construction engineering degree at Loughborough University.
He was a promising rugby player and represented England at under-16s level, as well as the England Universities and England Students teams.
Mr James's parents said he had never come to terms with his extreme physical incapacity, and repeatedly said he wanted to die and was determined to do so.
Mr James first contacted Dignitas, the Swiss organisation dedicated to helping those with terminal or incurable illnesses end their lives, in February this year, asking for help to kill himself.
He had already tried to take his own life three times.
PA