British woman, 57, with terminal breast cancer is euthanised ‘on a beach in the sunshine’ in New Zealand surrounded by loved ones days after urging UK to change its laws on assisted dying

A British woman with terminal breast cancer has been euthanized ‘on a beach in the sun’ in New Zealand, just days after she urged Britain to change assisted dying laws, a friend has revealed.

Tracy Hickman, 57, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in March 2019, fought for the right to euthanasia in Britain before dying on Wednesday.

In a heartfelt tribute posted to Instagram, Tracy podcasting star Dom Harvey shared a photo of the couple with the caption: ‘Tracy Hickman passed away peacefully today.

‘She was lying on a beach in the sun, surrounded by her loved ones. It was exactly what she wanted.

“It was an honor to share her story.”

Among the hundreds of supportive and emotional comments under the post was one written by Tracy’s partner Paul.

“Thank you for handling this story,” he wrote.

‘It was sensitive and the family really appreciated how you brought it to people’s attention in a way that allowed her to raise the awareness she wanted without sensationalizing it or seeking attention.

“Thank you so much for transforming the simple legacy she sought for her young great-nieces and others into something truly special.”

Tracy was euthanized in New Zealand – where it has been legalized since 2019 – just days after she shared a defiant post on social media claiming she was “at peace” with her decision to end her life on her own terms.

Last week, the British-New Zealander said in a brave statement to her fans: ‘The closer it gets, the more peaceful I feel.

“But I am deeply sorry for hurting my family and friends, even though they understand.

“The alternative is to live a few more months but suffer an uncertain and painful death.”

Tracy often spoke out about assisted dying laws in Britain, and used her online platform to fight for others in her position so they could decide when the right time was for them to die.

“Look at what New Zealand has done, and do better,” she said of her message to British politicians. The guard.

‘There is a lot of attention for the right to life, but people should have the right to a peaceful, gentle death.’

In New Zealand, laws introduced in 2019 under the End of Life Choice Act allow competent adults to choose assisted death – under the strict conditions that they have a terminal illness, are 18 years or older and still have six months to live.

Linda Clarke – Tracy’s sister who lives in Britain – reiterated her appeal to the British government

“If Tracy was still in Britain, I would have to see her suffer a horrible death,” she told the British newspaper.

Tracy was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2019 after a routine mammogram, despite being fit, vegetarian and a non-drinker.

The diagnosis was followed by surgery and chemotherapy. She said she suffered from side effects, such as hearing loss and “chemo brain,” but the cancer went away.

This allowed her to return to work and run marathons.

However, in February 2023, the cancer returned and spread, with further treatments leading to more side effects, including severe pain.

Tracy told the newspaper she did not qualify for assisted death at this stage as doctors believed she had more than six months to live.

She said she even contemplated suicide by refusing to eat or drink.

Her prognosis changed in March this year when doctors discovered dozens of tumors in her brain and advised she probably only had three months to live.

This, she said, was a “huge shock” and led to her taking morphine.

Following her diagnosis, Tracy applied for assisted death through the simple New Zealand process, which includes an assessment by two doctors.

A medical team administered her medication as she relaxed on a beach, until within minutes she lost consciousness while listening to the waves surrounded by family.

Euthanasia, or medically assisted death, is currently illegal in both Britain and the wider British Isles, and currently any doctor or person who performs euthanasia can be prosecuted for manslaughter or murder.

Even helping a terminally ill person to commit suicide, called assisted suicide, is a criminal offense in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Although there is no specific law on assisted suicide in Scotland, assisting someone to end their own life can lead to a prosecution for wrongful death in circumstances where a court determines that a person’s death was not entirely voluntary.