Star of London's Burning: How I watched ex-wife die in Swiss clinic

Chris Larner: Watched ex-wife die in Swiss clinic
12 April 2012

A former London's Burning actor today praised BBC2's assisted suicide documentary and revealed that his former wife died in his arms at the same Swiss clinic.

Chris Larner, who played Clingfilm in the hit ITV drama series, told how his ex-wife Allyson Lee died at Dignitas in November last year after struggling with multiple sclerosis.

About 900 people complained about this week's Choosing To Die film by author and Alzheimer's sufferer Terry Pratchett which showed Peter Smedley slipping away.

Mr Larner, 52, from Streatham Hill, said the film brought back painful memories but insisted that suicide should be legalised in the UK.

"Allyson was very clear it was her right to do what she wanted with her life," he said. "Besides the fear of eventually losing her sight, speech and ability to swallow, she was devastated about being unable to walk and her loss of independence. She just wanted relief."

Ms Lee, a drama teacher, was diagnosed with MS in 1985. The couple split after three years but remained good friends. Ten years ago the condition forced her to retire and move into a ground-floor disabled person's flat.

In 2008 she asked Mr Larner if he would go with her to Dignitas, should the need arise. "Gradually her good days became fewer and fewer until there were only bad days," he said. "The full life she once led became a constant ordeal. It became apparent the situation wasn't going to improve."

After paying the £6,000 fee, they travelled to Zurich, passed all the criteria, and Ms Lee was then prescribed a barbiturate.

Mr Larner, who has written a play about the experience, said: "I feel those people expressing great moral outrage, who would condemn Allyson to more pain and more trauma, are the ones who are really being cruel."

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