Bob Cole has an assisted death at Dignitas

Dignity in Dying has been informed that Bob Cole had an assisted death at Dignitas in Switzerland this afternoon. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.

Bob was accompanied by a group of his friends who had been caring for him in Chester since he became ill. We would like to add our voices to those asking for people to respect their privacy at this important time, as well as the privacy of his neighbours in Chester.

Bob was committed to the campaign for assisted dying, getting in touch with Dignity in Dying when he decided to talk to his local paper about his wife Ann who had an assisted death at Dignitas in early 2014. He joined us at many campaign events, did significant work to advance the campaign in the media and donated both time and money to the campaign. Bob’s death is not only a personal loss to those who knew him, but also for the entire campaign for assisted dying.

After learning of his short prognosis, Bob decided to tell his story in support of a change in the law. He knew from his involvement in the campaign of the importance of engaging the public with the reality of the current situation in Britain, and its impact on terminally ill people and their loved ones. Dignity in Dying put him in touch with The Sun and ITV News who met him in July as well as joining him in Zurich. Bob was clear that he wanted to continue to support the campaign after his death as he had done whilst he was alive.

The Assisted Dying Bill which Bob was supporting is due to be debated in the House of Commons on Friday 11th September and Dignity in Dying will be holding a public demonstration outside.

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