July 28, 2024
The Sarco Project Timeline
The Evolution of a New Idea
Sarco Project began back in 2012 when a lawyer in the UK asked Exit International Founder, Dr Philip Nitschke, if he could design a machine that could be used by Tony Nicklinson who was suffering from locked-in syndrome.
Philip’s first machine ‘the Deliverance Machine’ that was used in Australia in 1996, was then on display at the British Science Museum in London.
And so the idea of the Sarco was born.
The concept was for a capsule that was as aesthetically beautiful as it was functional.
The idea was that the user would climb in and press a button. A peaceful and reliable death would follow by method of nitrogen hypoxia.
With the Sarco capsule now complete and ready to be utilised in Switzerland, now is a good time to look at how the project evolved over the past 12 years.
2012
Events
- Philip Nitschke was asked to design a machine to be used by UK man Tony Nicklinson
Images
Initial Sarco Design Sketch
Artist’s impression of the Sarco, 2012
2013
Events
- First test tank plans drawn up
Image
2014
Event
- Initial exploratory work undertaken with Dutch sculptor, Ronald Westerhuis of Creative Minds
2015
Event
- Sarco Test Tank & Operating System designed and manufactured in the Netherlands
Image
Sarco Test Tank
2016
Events
- First Sarco nitrogen tests conducted to examine proof of concept
- Stainless steel test tank employed
- Work commences with industrial designer, Alex Bannink
Images
Sarco gas tank testing, NL 2016
Early Sarco Design Sketches
2017
Events
- First 3D-printed 1/8 scale model Sarco created
- Sarco concept unveiled at NuTech conference, Toronto, October
Image
Sarco Concept Launch, Toronto
2018
Event
- Full-size, timber laser-cut Sarco model (with VR imaging) presented at the Amsterdam Funeral Fair, Westerkerk, April
Image
Amsterdam Funeral Fair, April 2018
2019
Event
- Full-size, 3D printed Sarco unveiled at Venice Design, Palazzo Michiel, May
- December 2019 – Covid Pandemic
Images
Sarco at Venice Design, May 2019. Image courtesy Ruedi Habegger
Sarco arriving in Venice, May 2019
2020
Events
- February – First legal opinion sought from Professor Daniel Hurlimann (University of St Gallen) regarding the lawful use of Sarco in Switzerland
- Sarco X is delivered & undergoes testing in Haarlem NL, August
- Alex Bannink leaves the project
- Sarco exhibited at ‘ReDesign Death’ exhibition @ Cube Design Museum, NL
Images
Sarco X Testing, Haarlem NL August 2019
Sarco on display @ Cube Museum, NL
2021
Events
- Industrial designer & 3D-print specialist ‘Super Mario’ joins the project & reverse engineers original Sarco design
- Work begins on the 3D-printing of a new Sarco in Rotterdam
- Simultaneously, work continues on nitrogen testing
- Sarco exhibited at Museum of Sepulchral Culture, Kassel DE
- September – Ruedi Habegger approaches Exit to invest in Roderis venture. Exit declines. Organisations part ways.
- December – Fake news report of Sarco having obtained government approval to be used in Switzerland goes viral (by Swissinfo)
- December – Confidential Exit legal opinion leaked to NZZ Simon Hehli by the lawyer for and/or in collaboration with Ruedi Habegger at Pegasos without Exit’s prior knowledge or approval.
Images
Ongoing workshop testing, NL
Suizid: Let’s Talk About It Exhibition, Kassel DE
2022
Events
- New Sarco 3D-printed and delivered. Now for the assembly
- December – Swiss legal counsel retained
Images
Sarco 3D print components, NL
Sarco Assembly Q&A
2023
Events
- Sarco assembled, modified and ready to undergo first tests at the Rotterdam workshop
- July – testing commences and continues for following 11 months
- Expressions of interest opened for possible Sarco recipients
- The Last Resort Association established in Switzerland
- The Last Resort – Exit International collaboration commences
- Swiss legal counsel retained
Images
Instrument testing, Rotterdam July 2023
Testing, testing, & more testing …
2024
Events January – June
- Sarco testing continues
- January – Potential first user of Sarco (Person X) gets the ‘green light’ of provisional acceptance
- February – April – Survey of potential Swiss Sarco locations
- April – June electronics & AI voice systems built & incorporated
- May – Sarco submitted for painting
Images
On arrival back from the printers
Person X: May – July 2024
- May – Person X arrives in Europe from the US
- June – Person X visits location in Switzerland where Sarco can be used
- 3 July – Person X begins to display mental uncertainty & vulnerability regarding chosen path
- 5 July – NZZ publishes expose on Sarco’s possible use in Switzerland, setting off intense media speculation
- 11 July – NZZ again publishes on Sarco with NZZ-created, super-imposed image of Sarco at the Matterhorn
- 11 July – Person X becomes aware of NZZ Simon Hehli and other media
- 12 July – Communication with Person X is lost
- 12 July – The Last Resort withdraws the availability of Sarco from Person X, amid concerns over the mental health of Person X
Subsequent Developments
- 4-17 July – General media coverage becomes increasingly fanciful with imagined locations, users and times
- 17 July – The Last Resort Association holds a press conference in Zurich to correct the misinformation
- 25 July – The Last Resort presented allegations by NZZ that are alleged to come from Person X
- 25 July – Lawyer for & friends of Person X receive email from Person X saying she is about to die in the Sarco
- 26 July – Person X dies from lethal injection at an alternative clinic – unbeknownst to TLR & Exit
- 28 July – The Last Resort issues press statement to clarify concern for Person X and confirming Person X will not be the first user of the Sarco
- 29 July – Person X confirmed publicly as deceased after a missing person report to Swiss authorities
Summary
Person X was clearly not the right person to use the Sarco, especially on the first occasion. Exit and The Last Resort regret that there has been a false start but are looking forward to continuing the project of making Sarco a reality as a means for a peaceful death with a more suitable candidate.
Images
Sarco – Zurich Press Conference, 17 July 2024
Dr Florian Willet (left) The Last Resort & Dr Philip Nitschke (right) Exit International