Police take several people into custody as controversial suicide pod is used for first time

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

Swiss police claim 'several people' have been detained and a criminal case has now been opened in connection with the suspected death of a person in a new 'suicide capsule'.

Sarco, short for 'sarcophagus', is a 3D-printed capsule mounted on a stand that contains a canister of liquid nitrogen.

The 10-minute process rapidly decreases oxygen levels in the capsule as patients fall unconscious within one minute and are dead nine minutes later.

Dr Philip Nitschke - known as 'Dr Death' - is responsible for creating the device which promises a painless method of suicide.

A criminal case has been opened with the suspected death of a person in a new 'suicide capsule' (Exit International)

Police said in a statement that they were informed by a law firm that an assisted suicide with the use of the Sarco capsule had taken place near a forest cabin in Merishausen on Monday.

The force revealed that 'several people' were taken into custody and prosecutors have now opened an investigation on suspicion of incitement and accessory to suicide.

Schaffhausen Police said in a statement: "The public prosecutor's office of the canton of Schaffhausen was on Monday, 23. September 2024 at 4:40 p.m. from a law firm that an accompanied suicide with the capsule Sarco had taken place in the afternoon at a forest hut in Merishausen.

"As a result, the Schaffhausen police, including the criminal investigation service and the public prosecutor's office of the canton of Schaffhausen, went to the crime scene.

"In addition, specialists from the Forensic Institute Zurich (FOR) and the Institute of Forensic Medicine Zurich (IRMZ) were called in.

A criminal case has now been opened in connection with the suspected death of a person in a new 'suicide capsule' (Exit International)

"The suicide capsule Sarco was seized and the deceased person was taken to the IRMZ for autopsy.

"In addition, several people were put in police custody in the Merishausen area.

"The public prosecutor's office is also examining the violation of other criminal offences.

"Based on official and investigative secrecy, no further information will be provided at this time.

"The presumption of innocence applies."

Dr Nitschke commented on proceedings on social media, writing on X: "..an idyllic peaceful death in a Swiss forest where The Last Resort @tlrswiss used the Sarco device to help a US woman have the death she wanted."

LADbible Group has contacted Philip Nitschke and The Last Resort for comment.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.