Melbourne father of two travels to Switzerland to end his life

Troy Thornton says he would have preferred to die at home but Victoria’s assisted dying laws − which come into effect this year − wouldn’t have allowed it.

Troy Thornton with his wife and two children on a family holiday. Source: Supplied

Retired Melbourne firefighter Troy Thornton is a long way from home.

And he won’t be returning from Europe after deciding to end his life there on Friday.

The 54-year-old father of two travelled to a clinic in Switzerland this week following a diagnosis of cerebellar atrophy, a degenerative neurological condition, almost five years ago. 

Mr Thornton has followed a similar journey to that of Australian scientist David Goodall, who chose to end his life through euthanasia in Switzerland last year at the age of 104. 

 

More details on SBS News