Zürich/Köln – Dr. Florian Willet, who accompanied the first patient using a suicide capsule to their death, has passed away at the age of 47.
Willet, the founding president of the Swiss assisted suicide organization “The Last Resort,” died on May 5 in Germany. This was announced by the organization on Sunday in a tribute on their website.
The cause of death was not specified in the tribute. However, the Swiss daily newspaper Tages-Anzeige reported, citing reliable sources, that Willet may have committed suicide.
The controversial suicide capsule Sarco is made with a 3D printer. Inside, liquid nitrogen is released, leading to suffocation.
The inventor of the Sarco capsule, Australian physician and euthanasia activist Philip Nitschke (77), told BILD: “We have very little information regarding the exact circumstances of his death.” According to him, Willet reportedly died in Cologne, allegedly with assistance, though this has not been officially confirmed. The Sarco capsule was not used in the process, Nitschke stated.
Uncertainties Surrounding Death in Suicide Capsule
Willet was present when a 64-year-old American woman took her life using the suicide capsule on September 23, 2024. Following this incident, Willet, a resident of Switzerland, was arrested and held in investigative custody for 70 days. Legal proceedings were also initiated against other individuals involved. The deceased was found to have severe neck injuries, as reported by a forensic expert at the time. There were initial suspicions that Willet may have harmed the woman, as the capsule did not function as intended. However, these suspicions were unfounded, and he was released from custody in early December 2024.
This suicide capsule was used by a 64-year-old American woman in a forest in the Swiss Canton of Schaffhausen on September 23.
According to the tribute from “The Last Resort,” Willet suffered severe injuries after reportedly falling from his third-floor apartment in Zurich shortly after his release. He underwent surgery and received psychiatric care. “Florian’s spirit was broken,” the tribute stated.
Criminal Proceedings Against the Deceased Closed
The public prosecutor’s office has announced that the criminal proceedings against Willet are now closed. However, investigations into other suspects will continue, as they remain complex.
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