The tragic reason that led to a man jumping to his death from a cruise ship off the coast of New Zealand – Stuff.co.nz

Warning: This story deals with the topic of suicide.

No-one will ever know when Neil Vaughan decided to take his life by jumping from a cruise ship off the east coast of New Zealand.

It could have been anytime in the preceding 11 years as Parkinsons disease took its inexorable and excruciating toll.

It could have been in the moments before he leapt, on the evening of December 29, 2019, as he writhed and screamed in pain as his wife of 39 years, Nina, went to get them dinner. Or it could have been earlier that day when he surprised Nina by overcoming his pain sufficiently to spend the day looking around Napier.

Bill Kearns/Stuff

Vaughan jumped from the ship about six nautical miles off the coast of Mahia, pictured. (File photo)

READ MORE:* Rainy day savings part of Cullen legacy* Man who admitted attempting to kill his ill wife in apparent suicide pact sentenced* Let dementia sufferers decide their death before their mind fails

Vaughan was 62. He and Nina lived in Warragul, 100 kilometres southeast of Melbourne.

The father of two was in the advanced stages of Parkinsons and was in great pain, physically and psychologically. His mind and body had long ceased operating the way he wanted.

He and Nina had discussed euthanasia.

Both had filled in forms with their doctor stating that if they were terminally ill they were not to be revived. Both agreed they wanted quality of life ahead of quantity of life.

Coroner Bruce Hesketh has issued his findings on Vaughans death.

Reporting restrictions that usually apply to suicides were lifted in Vaughans case following an application by Stuff to Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall.

Marshall said it was in the public interest to allow publication of the details of Vaughans death given the debate surrounding euthanasia and the upcoming implementation of the End of Life Choice Act 2019.

Stuffs application was supported by Vaughans wife Nina, who said she and her husband both considered the policies around euthanasia were outdated and did not take into account the needs and wishes of the person who was ill.

Supplied

Marinetraffic.com plotted the track of the Norwegian Jewel after Vaughan went overboard.

Vaughans condition had deteriorated greatly since being diagnosed in 2008, and was compounded by dementia. He had been in the advanced stages of the disease in his last three years. A visit to a neurologist a month before the cruise confirmed cognitive impairment as well as psychological and behaviour problems.

The Parkinsons was causing significant tremors in his limbs. He was embarrassed of the shaking and would get upset when people noticed or tried to help him.

He had become forgetful, anxious, was on a raft of medications, and was essentially confined to his house. Nina still worked and carers looked after him during the day.

The couple enjoyed cruising and on December 22, 2019, they boarded the Norwegian Jewel in Sydney for a Christmas and New Year cruise around New Zealand.

Vaughan got tired quickly and would usually sleep following breakfast and lunch. But on the morning of December 29, when the ship berthed at Napier, he surprised Nina by saying he was keen to go on a local tour.

Abigail Dougherty

The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship arrived in Auckland, on December 31, two days day after Vaughan went overboard. The ship had been bound for Tauranga, but sailed to Auckland after the incident occurred. The vessel could carry 2376 guests and 1069 crew members. (File photo)

They spent the morning in the city, taking in a one-hour vintage tour, before returning to the ship around 1.30pm

That afternoon Vaughan was trembling badly and crying in pain. At around 5.30pm Nina went to get dinner to bring back to the cabin. She was gone for about 10 minutes.

When she returned Vaughan was not in the cabin. She thought he must have fallen asleep, woken, and gone to find her. So she went looking for him. She could be seen on CCTV walking up and down the dining room and asking staff if they had seen him.

Returning to the cabin she noticed his key card lying on the table and his shoes on a shelf. She also noticed a deck chair on the deck had been moved up against the balcony glass. It was then that she feared Vaughan had gone overboard.

Ricky Wilson/Stuff

Chief coroner Judge Deborah Marshall granted an exemption from restrictions on making details of a suicide public following an application by Stuff. (File photo)

The ship turned and began searching for Vaughan. Fishing vessels, private yachts and the Hawkes Bay rescue helicopter were also asked to search.

No trace of Vaughan was ever found.

Nina told the coroner of the couples discussions about euthanasia, which had taken place in 2017, and said Vaughan had discarded his firearms after getting his Parkinsons diagnosis. Hed told her he didnt want to ever be tempted to use them on himself as she would be the one most likely to find him afterwards.

Nina told the coroner a good friend of Vaughans told her of a conversation he had had with Vaughan about two years earlier about ways to commit suicide.

Coroner Hesketh found Vaughans death to be a suicide. He said Vaughan was dressed in light clothing and would have drowned quickly in the sea about six nautical miles off the Mahia coast.

In June 2019, Victoria became the first state in Australia where euthanasia was legal. There are strict conditions. A person must have an advanced disease causing them unacceptable suffering and likely to die within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons disease.

South Australia and Tasmania have since adopted similar laws, with other states in the process. New Zealands End of Life Act makes euthanasia legal for certain people from November 7.

It is unknown if Vaughan would have met the criteria. The coroners report does not state whether he had been assessed.

Nina could not be reached for comment.

A memorial service was held for Vaughan in late January 2020.

Such a gentleman. Parkinsons got the better of him but in pain no more my darling. We all loved you and miss you terribly, Nina wrote in his death notice.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF

Euthanasia advocate Bobbie Carroll says she is elated at the preliminary referendum result for the euthanasia referendum.

In the first 18 months since the Act came into force in Victoria, 328 people who were granted permits for assisted dying had died. A third of those died before taking the medication, or did not take the medication.

Of those 328 people granted permits, 47 had neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, Huntingtons etc).

Dying With Dignity Victoria president Hugh Sarjeant said someone suffering from Parkinsons would need a GP and a specialist in the disease saying yes, your condition is expected to cause your death within 12 months.

Theres no clear-cut way of doing it. Also, remember its a 6-month prognosis for most conditions, and 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions, he said.

We still find a lot of people dont know the ins and outs of the legislation, so they could assume theyre eligible when theyre not, or assume the other way, Sarjeant said.

The other thing that has been a sticking point is that you have to have been a Victorian resident for at least twelve months, and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Weve got a lot of people in Australia who came from England or elsewhere decades ago and never took out citizenship, who cannot access voluntary dying. These people cannot access VAD (voluntary assisted dying) because permanent resident in the Act has been interpreted as meaning they have been granted permanent residency. It is not sufficient that a person permanently lives here, Sarjeant said.

The Victorian government had adopted those requirements as it wanted to stop suicide tourism.

It made sense in the legislation, but they werent thinking of these other people. The law gets reviewed after five years and could be changed then, he said.

Where to get help

1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.

Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)

Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202

Kidsline 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.

Lifeline 0800 543 354

Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812, click here to access its free resource and information service.

Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254

Samaritans 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Supporting Families in Mental Illness 0800 732 825

thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626

Excerpt from:

The tragic reason that led to a man jumping to his death from a cruise ship off the coast of New Zealand - Stuff.co.nz