Terminally ill dad, Tim Wardle, who campaigned for the assisted dying bill not wanting anyone to face a painful death ended up endured a painful final day, his son told The Mirror
A terminally ill dad who wanted to fly to Dignitas to escape a painful death but could not afford it, has sadly died.
Tim Wardle, 86, an Assisted Dying Campaigner, suffered from cancer for more than a decade. Tragically his son, Charlie, 25, told how he died in pain and is urging the House of Lords to stop trying to delay the Assisted Dying Bill so no one else has to suffer like his dad did.
Charlie told The Mirror: “He took a very sudden turn and in the day prior to his death he was in pain, it is important others don’t go through this.
“He was facing cancer for more than a decade and luckily, for the most part, in the months leading up to his passing, he was doing well.
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“But he took a very sudden turn and I know from my mum, about the pain that he was in the day prior to his passing. I think it’s important that other people have the option not to let it get that far. “
Campaigners at My Death, My Decision described Tim as an unwavering supporter of the assisted dying campaign.
Tim, who lived in Devon, was diagnosed with inoperable kidney cancer following a 10-year battle with bladder, prostate, and lung cancer.
He spoke publicly about why he wanted the legal right to die on his terms – at home, in peace, and with dignity.
Tim had seen cancer devastate his family, losing his grandfather, mother and both sisters to the disease.
He was present at one sister’s death in Canada before Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) was legalised there and he said he was determined to face death on his terms.
He said seeing his sister at the end of her life in Canada left him certain people should have a choice over their death. Tim said: “She was a lovely woman but she was in obvious pain.
“She was a very private person and hated the loss of dignity. Canada has subsequently made laws for assisted dying, but they came too late for her.”
He added: “The things I fear are a loss of dignity. And obviously there’s a pain factor. Also I would not want my wife and my son to see me like my sister.”
While he had explored the possibility of going abroad for an assisted death, Tim believed no one should be forced to leave home or spend thousands of pounds for the choice to die peacefully.
He said: “I wish to die at a time and place of my choosing, before losing control of my speech and bodily functions, and with my loved ones around me. I do not believe that any authority has the right to deny me that choice.”
Tim, a retired architect, said: “We’re Victorian in our attitude to death. We treat our animals better than we do people. If you find a pet to be suffering intolerably, you are considered doing the right thing if you have them put down.
“If we can do that for our animals who can’t express a view, why can’t we do that for humans who can.”
His son, Charlie Wardle, said: “I know this cause meant a lot to Dad, and the right to experience death on one’s terms is something he and I always agreed was humane and just.
“I think that the way that the bill is being handled is shocking and My death, My decision has hit the nail on the head when they say the Lords are filibustering the debates in the interest of running out the clock.
“But this only does harm. It puts us back even further. I am not opposing the debate of the proposed amendments but I think the sheer volume of those and the speed at which they’re being debated is so transparently time-wasting.
“And I think it is, at the very least, an insult to campaigners who are just trying to put the good of terminally ill people first. The quicker we can see this passed, the less people are going to have to go through this agonising death, every delay is another potential victim of a painful death.
“As my dad said he watched his sister die in Canada and there (a law change) came too late for her and the assisted dying bill came too late for my dad. But it’s not too late for other people to have that choice and to exercise dignity in dying.”
Support worker Charlie, 25, who lives in Blaenavon, South Wales, told The Mirror his dad was at home up until the day before he passed away. He was then taken to Torbay Hospital where he died in the early hours of May 22nd
He added: “I know this cause meant a lot to Dad, and the right to experience death on one’s terms is something he and I always agreed was humane and just.
“I am proud to know that his legacy lives on in such a meaningful and worthwhile campaign.”
Graham Winyard, Director at My Death, My Decision, said: “Tim was a deeply principled and compassionate man who gave so much to the assisted dying movement, even while facing his own terminal diagnosis. He spoke with honesty and courage about the reality of dying in a country without choice.
“We are honoured to have known and worked alongside him, and we will continue campaigning in his name to ensure that others are not forced to suffer when there is a kinder, fairer alternative.
“Tim’s legacy is one of dignity, justice and compassion, and it will endure.”
