DEFIANT Tony Nicklinson went to the death he longed for yesterday with the brave words: "Goodbye world, the time has come, I had some fun."
The devastated victim of "locked-in" syndrome had the final say after the High Court last week turned down his battle to be allowed to die by assisted suicide.
He passed away at home at 10am surrounded by his doting wife Jane, 56, daughters Lauren, 24, and Beth, 22, and his sister Ginny.
His lawyers said 58-year-old Tony had refused food since his devastating legal defeat and died from pneumonia.
He asked his family to post his farewell message on Twitter. Lauren added: "Dad, you are finally at peace. Beth and I are so proud to be your daughters — we got our strength from you. I love you xxx."
Beth said: "RIP @TonyNicklinson. Couldn't have asked for a better dad, so strong. You are now at peace, we will be fine. I love you xxx."
Wife Jane, who had nursed former businessman Tony after he suffered a catastrophic stroke, wrote: "I have lost the love of my life but he suffers no more."
Jane looked on sadly as undertakers removed his body from their specially-adapted bungalow in Melksham, Wilts, on a trolley covered with a maroon blanket.
Police said there would be no investigation. A spokesman said: "His death certificate has been signed by a doctor, so it is not a matter for Wiltshire Police or the coroner."
Tony — unable to speak and paralysed from the neck down — was heartbroken by the ruling that he could not die at a time of his choosing with a lethal injection from a doctor who would not be prosecuted.
He was seen weeping uncontrollably at the court's verdict six days earlier. Jane, his full-time carer, said: "The fight seemed to go out of him."
He planned to appeal but told his lawyers: "I am crestfallen, totally devastated and very frightened. I fear for the future and the misery it is bound to bring."
Saimo Chahal, one of his legal team, said last night: "Jane told me that Tony went rapidly downhill over last weekend, having contracted pneumonia.
"He had made an Advance Directive in 2004 refusing any life sustaining-treatment and also refused food from last week."
Ms Chahal added: "He was gutsy, determined and a fighter to the end."
Rugby fanatic Tony went from a larger-than-life character to a helpless invalid after a stroke on a business trip to Athens in June 2005.
Although he was paralysed from the neck down his brain remained fully active. He described his existence as "dull, miserable, demeaning, undignified and intolerable".
He relied on others for his every need. The only way he could communicate was via a perspex board and computer programme — blinking and nodding to spell words.
He eventually pleaded with Jane, spelling out: "Help me to die".
Lifelong friend Gezz Higgins, 79, said of his death: "He was a very strong character and I'm not surprised. He always said he wished doctors hadn't saved him."
Lawyers representing a second locked-in syndrome sufferer — who lost in the High Court on the same day as Tony — are to appeal. The man known only as Martin, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffered a massive stroke in August 2008.
Long fight for dignity
JUNE 2005: Tony has stroke on business trip to Athens. Left paralysed from neck down, cannot talk, but is mentally fit.
DECEMBER 2007: After two years in Greek hospitals he returns to UK.
FEBRUARY 2010: New assisted suicide guidelines announced by Director of Public Prosecutions.
JULY 2010: Tony's lawyers begin High Court battle to win judicial review on whether those helping others to die will be routinely prosecuted.
JUNE 2012: Case is heard by court. He calls his life "demeaning".
AUGUST 2012: Judgment denies Tony the right to die. He begins refusing food and dies days later.
myView
By DAVINA HEHIR
I MET Tony and Jane and followed his case closely, though the aim of our organisation differs slightly from Tony's cause.
He wasn't dying, but felt that if a doctor was willing to help him die they should be able to do so without fear of prosecution.
The way the laws stands now, they would be prosecuted for murder with an automatic life sentence.
There needs to be greater flexibility to take into account cases like this.
Tony was an extremely courageous and determined man and I have a lot of respect for him.
His fight has opened up the debate and left a lasting legacy.
myView
By ALISTAIR THOMPSON of Care Not Killing
NO one who followed the Nicklinson or Martin cases could fail to be moved by them.
But the judges were right to conclude that the law on assisted suicide did not require further clarification as requested by Martin.
They also rejected Mr Nicklinson's request to introduce a new defence in murder cases of voluntary euthanasia.
The current law exists to protect those who are sick, elderly, depressed or disabled from feeling obliged to end their lives.
It protects those who have no voice against exploitation and coercion and acts as a powerful deterrent to would-be abusers. It doesn't need changing.
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