October 30, 2024
Press Statement
Statement: 30 October 2024
Without access to the full autopsy report, The Last Resort cannot comment on the reported ‘suspicion’ of ‘injuries’ on the neck of the first Sarco user.
The Schaffhausen prosecutor has been reported in past media stating that the autopsy was conducted on 23 September 2024.
More than five weeks later, the autopsy report has been kept hidden, including from the lawyers for The Last Resort and Exit International and persons involved.
The Last Resort and Exit International maintain that the Sarco worked precisely as planned and the user died peacefully from nitrogen hypoxia.
The allegations of intentional homicide are ridiculous and absurd.
The Last Resort and Exit International strongly reject these allegations.
Continuous film footage from two cameras (one internal to the Sarco and one external focused on the Sarco and the environment) and phone records show on Monday 23 September 2024 that:
- The woman entered the Sarco unaided @15.50.25
- The woman closed the lid of the Sarco unaided @ 15.54.05
- The woman pressed the internal activation button herself @ 15.54.45
- The police were contacted to report the death @ 16.30.00
- Police and forensic staff arrived at the scene @ 18.48.32
- The Sarco capsule was opened by forensics @ 19.22.25
The capsule oxygen concentration was recorded and can be shown to have remained at lethal levels until well after the woman had died.
It is assumed that the prosecutor is in possession of the film footage and is aware of the factual circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
The Last Resort maintains confidence in the Swiss criminal justice system and the rule of law.
The Last Resort welcomes a transparent and timely investigation and outcome.
At the beginning of October, Dr Philip Nitschke and Dr Fiona Stewart offered to come to Switzerland to be interviewed.
This offer was rejected by the Schaffhausen prosecutor.
END
