Stroke victim desperate to die over 'demeaning life'

A man whose mind is perfectly healthy but is trapped inside a body which is completely paralysed goes to the High Court today because he wants doctors to be allowed to end his life.

Tony Nicklinson had a stroke seven years ago and as a result he now suffers from a condition called locked-in syndrome.

Tony was once an active businessman.

But the 57-year-old will argue his life is now so demeaning and undignified that he should be given help to die when he wants to.

ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner reports:

Tony has recently turned to Twitter to help explain what's he's going through.

However many of Tony's followers are trying to persuade him his life is worth keeping.

Tony told ITV News he was overwhelmed by the number of people who had begun following him.

However he added that despite the support on Twitter, nothing will change his mind.

Tony's wife Jane Nicklinson told ITV News whatever the outcome of the court proceedings, the ending will not be a happy one.

Tony's legal team will make the case today that when he decides that he wants to die a doctor should lawfully be able to end his life.

His case differs to that of 'assisted dying' because Tony Nicklinson is challenging the law on murder and not on suicide.