Tony Nicklinson dies 'peacefully' at home

Locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson, who lost his High Court battle last week for the legal right to end his life when he chooses with help from a doctor, has died.

His family said he died peacefully this morning of natural causes.

ITV News' Social Affairs Editor Penny Marshall reports:

Tony joined Twitter earlier this year using eye movement technology to access the social networking site. Today, his family used his account to tweet his final message:

His wife said on Twitter she had lost the love of her life.

His lawyers released a short statement.

Last week, Tony Nicklinson said he was devastated and disappointed after losing his High Court battle to have a doctor end his life without fear of prosecution.

Tony Nicklinson suffered a stroke seven years ago that left his perfectly healthy mind trapped inside a paralysed body. He communicated using a special eye movement technology.

Once an active business man and former rugby player, he went to the High Court to argue that his life was so demeaning and undignified that he should be given help to die.

His case differed to that of an "assisted dying" because he was challenging the law on murder.

He asked the High Court to grant a declaration that a doctor could intervene to end his "indignity" with his consent and with him making the decision with full mental capacity, and have a "common law defence of necessity" against any murder charge. The High Court rejected his argument.

Last week, the family said they would appeal against the High Court decision and would keep fighting. His daughter Lauren said:

Wiltshire Police said today there are no suspicious circumstances linked to the death and they would not be investigating.

His daughters Lauren and Beth both paid tribute to their father on Twitter:

Lawyers representing ‘Martin’, a 47-year-old British man who also has locked-in syndrome, have said that they will appeal against the High Court judgement denying their client the opportunity to take the necessary steps to end his own life.

Mr Nicklinson's case was contained in the same judgement but differed in what it was trying to achieve. Richard Stein, the head of human rights at Leigh Day & Co said:

Martin himself paid tribute to Tony Nicklinson today: