Mother who admitted helping end the life of her terminally ill son 40 years ago dies

8 July 2024, 07:30 | Updated: 8 July 2024, 07:32

Antonya Cooper, 77, died over the weekend after being diagnosed with incurable breast, pancreatic and liver cancer.
Antonya Cooper, 77, died over the weekend after being diagnosed with incurable breast, pancreatic and liver cancer. Picture: Facebook

By Lauren Lewis

A mother who admitted helping to end the life of her terminally ill son 40 years ago has died.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Antonya Cooper, 77, died over the weekend after being diagnosed with incurable breast, pancreatic and liver cancer.

Ms Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxford, admitted last week to giving her son a "large dose of morphine that did quietly end his life" 40 years ago.

Her son Hamish was five-years-old when he was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma - a rare childhood cancer - and aged seven when he died at home on December 1, 1981.

Ms Cooper, a former chair of Neuroblastoma UK, who lives in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, said her young son had been "in a lot of pain" by the end of his life.

Last week, Thames Valley Police said it was "aware of reports relating to an apparent case of assisted dying of a seven-year-old boy in 1981".

The service added: "At this early stage, the force is making enquiries into these reports and is not in a position to comment further while these investigations continue."

Ms Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxford, admitted last week to giving her son a "large dose of morphine that did quietly end his life" 40 years ago.
Ms Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxford, admitted last week to giving her son a "large dose of morphine that did quietly end his life" 40 years ago. Picture: Facebook

Read more: 'Everything stinks': Missing Jay Slater’s dad speaks out after mysterious 'Johnny Vegas' identified

Speaking about her final moments with her son, Ms Cooper told PA Real Life in May: "In the middle of the night, we were by his bedside."

He was expressing that he had pain and I said, 'Would you like me to take the pain away?'

"He said, 'Yes please, Mama', and so I gave him a dose of morphine sulphate through his Hickman catheter.

"We had watched him brave through all that beastly treatment, we had had him for longer than the original prognosis, so the time was right.

"Euthanasia - deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering - is illegal in England and could be prosecuted as murder or manslaughter.

As with all criminal offences, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) must follow the principles set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors when deciding whether to start or continue a prosecution.

Ms Cooper, who is now living with her own incurable cancer and has joined assisted dying clinic Dignitas, was asked by BBC Radio Oxford if she understood she was potentially admitting to manslaughter or murder and replied: "Yes."

She told the radio programme: "If they come 43 years after I have allowed Hamish to die peacefully, then I would have to face the consequences. But they would have to be quick, because I'm dying too."

Read more: Benidorm police warn holidaymakers over little known safety rule on local beaches as 'SOS' issued

Ms Cooper, a former chair of Neuroblastoma UK, who lives in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, said her young son had been "in a lot of pain" by the end of his life.
Ms Cooper, a former chair of Neuroblastoma UK, who lives in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, said her young son had been "in a lot of pain" by the end of his life. Picture: Facebook

The conversation around assisted dying and calls for a change in the law has become louder in recent months, with legislation being considered in Scotland, the Isle of Man and Jersey.

Famous faces such as broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, who has previously described the current law as "increasingly unbearable", and presenter Dame Prue Leith, who called for "less pearl-clutching" and more constructive conversation on the issue, have spoken out on the subject.

In December, Dame Esther Rantzen - who has stage 4 lung cancer - revealed she had joined Dignitas.

The Childline founder and broadcaster has called for a free vote on assisted dying in Parliament.

Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind CEO Steven Hall has called for more support from the government

Mental health charity calls for government help as services to take £250k hit due to NI tax hikes

Exclusive
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper takes part in the Call the Cabinet phone-in during LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast show.

'Why won't you say the word?': Home secretary refuses to confirm inquiry into murder of Sir David Amess

Exclusive
Aspiring cyber professionals will be given the chance to enter a fast-track stream to become 'cyber warriors' within a month.

Fast-track to £40k: Military recruits ‘cyber warriors’ with just one-month training and highest salary in the armed forces

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper takes part in the Call the Cabinet phone

Government plans new police powers to tackle rising phone thefts, Home Secretary tells LBC

Davina McCall wrote letters to her children before undergoing surgery.

Davina McCall reveals heartbreaking plans she made for her children before brain tumour surgery

Matt Jukes said the UK could not afford to delay taking serious action on the negative impacts of social media.

Dangers of social media for children 'like cancer risk of smoking', says counter-terrorism chief

Ebony McIntosh passed away aged 24.

Tributes pour in for beloved Brit travel influencer who died suddenly on 'dream' trip to Sri Lanka

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden wants to create a more "agile and modern" state

Top civil servants could face the sack if they do not deliver savings for the taxpayer

Exclusive
Shocking figures obtained by LBC show that 2790 women were caught carrying knives in 2023/24, up from fewer than 900 in 2014.

Number of women caught carrying knives trebles in a decade

L-R: Dafydd Huw Craven-Jones, 18, Sophie Bates, 17, Morgan Jones, 17.

Three teens died after new driver 'lost control of car and crashed into tree'

Kemi Badenoch has urged the Government to make it harder for immigrants to secure permanent residency or a UK passport.

Tories pledge to kick out low-paid and unemployed migrants from UK

Exclusive
Beware of Phone Snatchers warning by Metropolitan Police stencilled on London pavement

Police will get extra powers to speed up search warrants in clampdown on soaring mobile phone thefts

Harvey Willgoose died in the attack at All Saints Catholic High School

Mum of Sheffield school stabbing victim Harvey Willgoose reveals heartbreaking final words

Liam Payne and girlfriend Kate Cassidy attending the premiere of All Of Those Voices at Cineworld in London.

Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy reveals reason she left star in Argentina

Police refuse to return stolen phone to owner because thief 'used it' and device now contained his private information

Police refuse to return stolen phone to owner because thief 'used it' and device now contained his private information

Grenfell Tower where at least 72 people died after a fire broke out on June 14th 2017 in North Kensington with the slogan 'Forever in our Hearts'.

Grenfell Tower to finally be demolished eight years after fire claimed lives of 72 people