Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
A 'loving and devoted' elderly couple who took their own lives together following a devastating diagnosis have been remembered by their family, with one saying they 'respect' the decision that was made.
In March earlier this year, Lynn and Ian Hunt were discovered passed away at their home in Cornwall, England.
Months before, the elderly couple - aged 77 and 81 - had received the heartbreaking news Lynn had a condition which would leave her with little more than a few years to live.
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Lynn's diagnosis
Lynn - who worked as a PA to the head of children services at the local council before retiring - was diagnosed with a degenerative motor neurone disease (MND).
Motor neurone disease 'is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time,' the NHS states.
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It explains: "There's no cure for MND, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on a person's daily life. Some people live with the condition for many years. MND can significantly shorten life expectancy and, unfortunately, eventually leads to death."
Lynn's sister, Kerry Todd, said at an inquest hearing held on December 9 that Lynn was 'scared of what the disease would do to her body,' as quoted by Cornwall Live.
"She was terrified of how it would affect her and how it would affect Ian," Todd continued. "She didn't want to continue in that way. She told me she didn't want any of the care package."
Lynn and Ian's passing
On March 15, Lynn and Ian were discovered by firefighters in their home. Authorities initially thought the pair may have passed away as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, but the elderly couple's deaths were later ruled by a coroner as suicide from overdoses of medication.
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A letter was also discovered at the property with instructions as to who should take care of the pair's dog, as well as thanking all their loved ones and the medical professionals who took care of Lynn, as well as their wills.
Assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Guy Davies, said: "The evidence is that Lynn and Ian were a loving and devoted couple. Following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease, they clearly resolved not to be parted and took their own lives together. They did everything together and were a close couple in life and in death."
And Kerry has since opened up further about the 'huge shock' at finding out her sister and brother-in-law had passed.
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Kerry noted despite how awful the news of their passing was to receive, looking into Lynn's condition, she 'understand[s] what they did'.
"The fact they did it in secret without their family around with a bottle of Champagne is a great sadness, but I respect their choice," she added.
Officer in the case, DC Victoria Swan, noted Lynn 'knew what would happen in the near future to her body'.
She resolved: "Ian and Lynn did everything together. They were inseparable and lived for each other. They knew what the future would be like and didn't want to live without each other so they decided to fall asleep together."
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If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
Topics: Health, Mental Health, UK News
Poppy Bilderbeck