The parents of a paralysed rugby player thought to be the youngest Briton to travel to Switzerland to commit suicide today defended his decision as police launched an investigation.
Daniel James, 23, died at a Swiss clinic on September 12th, an inquest heard.
The former England under-16 rugby player was paralysed from the chest down in March last year when a scrum collapsed on top of him, dislocating his spine.
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.
The couple, from Sinton Green, Worcester, issued a statement saying their son was "an intelligent young man of sound mind" who was "not prepared to live what he felt was a second-class existence".
They said he tried "several" times to kill himself before he "gained his wish".
Julie and Mark James said: "His death was an extremely sad loss for his family, friends and all those that care for him but no doubt a welcome relief from the 'prison' he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence, as a result of which he took his own life.
"This is the last way that the family wanted Dan's life to end but he was, as those who know him are aware, an intelligent, strong-willed and some say determined young man.
"The family suffered considerably over the last few months and do wish to be left in peace to allow them to grieve appropriately."
Mr James was in the middle of a degree, reported to be in construction engineering management, at Loughborough University in Leicestershire when he died.
Keith Howells, president of Nuneaton Rugby Football Club where Daniel was injured, told the BBC tonight: "He was a great player. One memory I've got is when we came back from winning a match away Dan was singing karaoke on the coach with a stupid hat on. That was the character of Dan. A great player and a great loss."
After the accident his mother Julie told the
Worcester News: "It was so sudden. We had no build-up to it, it just happened. We got a phone call saying Dan had a bit of a knock at rugby. That was it."
Mr and Mrs James justified their son's decision today as West Mercia Police launched an investigation.
Police said they had been in contact with a man and a woman following the death.
An inquest was opened and adjourned at the Coroner's Court in Worcestershire on September 19th.
PA