Wendy Duffy’s heartbreaking last request before taking her own life in a Swiss clinic

Warning: disturbing content. Bereaved mum Wendy Duffy, who ended her life in an assisted dying clinic today, has spoken about being ‘super-organised’ ahead of her one-way journey, revealing her poignant final requests

A British mother, despite being non-terminal, ended her life today in a clinic in Switzerland and had previously revealed her tragic final wishes.

Wendy Duffy, 56, was devastated by the death of her son, Marcus, four years ago, and although she has undergone therapy and a course of antidepressants, sadly it has done nothing to ease her grief. Unable to come to terms with her loss, the West Midlands woman paid £10,000 to end her life at the Pegasos clinic, saying she would rather not live “in this world” without her only child.

Marcus was just 23 years old when he fell asleep on the couch while eating a sandwich due to a hangover after a night out. A cherry tomato became lodged in his trachea, with fatal results. Medically trained first aid personnel attempted CPR, but to no avail. The devoted mother sat by Marcus’s side for five days before his life support was turned off.

Driven by despair, Wendy attempted suicide nine months after her son’s death. Then, in early 2025, they sought a formal application from Pegasos, an assisted dying clinic that, unlike other facilities like Dignitas, only accepts psychiatric cases where there is no physical illness.

Applicants must meet strict criteria before being accepted, indicating that their condition is severe, long-lasting, and resistant to treatment. Wendy passed her final assessment earlier this year and is due to die today (April 24). Before embarking on their one-way journey, Wendy made her heartbreaking final wishes clear, arranging every last detail.

West Midlands mother left heartbroken after death of her son, Marcus

In conversation with Mail Online, Wendy shared in the days before her death that she had already written goodbye letters to her loved ones and had chosen the music she wanted played during her passing: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars singing the poignantly titled “Die with a Smile.”

Wendy knew exactly what dress she wanted to die in—a T-shirt that belonged to Marcus and read, “Still smell like that.” She told the publication: ‘I don’t care about anything anymore. I exist. I don’t live. When Marcus died, I died inside too. On my deathbed I will wear his T-shirt, which still smells of him.”

As Mail reporter Jenny Johnson noted, Wendy appeared excited about the trip, looking almost like “a woman going to Barbados on holiday.” The bereaved mother shared, “Oh, I’m super organised. I’ve watched the videos, and it’s absolutely lovely out there. You see the trees and nature, and it’s so peaceful. I only asked that the big windows be open so my spirit could be free. I asked them to give the things I brought, including my suitcase, to an animal charity so that other people can benefit. I hate waste; you look.”

She requested that the clinic’s windows be left open so that her ‘soul could be free’ (Image: Pegasos)

There was no option to donate her organs, which Wendy considered “the only drawback” of the process. Following the cremation in Switzerland, Wendy’s ashes will be brought back to family members in the UK and scattered on “her” bench along with Marcus’s ashes. There will be no funeral, with Wendy claiming she “hated” it anyway.

While Wendy’s six siblings – four sisters and two brothers – knew about her application, they were not informed about the timelines of the ‘process’. Its purpose is to protect them. If anyone had helped Wendy in any way, even by giving her a lift to the airport, they could have faced a police investigation and even prosecution.

Although Wendy acknowledged that her decision would be difficult for her surviving family members, she has no regrets. She said, ‘I won’t change my mind,’ she says. ‘I know it’s difficult for you, sweetheart. It must be challenging for everyone. But I want to die, and that’s what I’m going to do. And I’ll have a smile on my face when I do, so please be happy for me. My life; my choice..’

In England and Wales, the Assisted Dying Bill does not allow cases like Wendy’s, as it was intended to be used only by people of sound mind who are terminally ill, with a life expectancy of up to six months.

This afternoon, the bill expired in the House of Lords, meaning it will not become law.

Meanwhile, the most famous Swiss clinic Dignitas may have rejected Wendy’s application. Wendy had to gain approval from an expert panel, including psychiatrists, before Pegasos accepted her. Her application was finally accepted after a month-long evaluation process, during which experts would have full access to her medical records.