104-year-old scientist who regrets getting old, leaves home to die

A 104-year-old Australian scientist, David Goodall, has begun a journey to terminate his life, saying he “greatly regrets” getting old.

The renowned ecologist and botanist doesn’t have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated.

According to BBC, Goodall was pictured at the airport wearing a sweatshirt with the inscription ‘ageing disgracefully’.

“I greatly regret having reached that age,” Goodall told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on his birthday last month.

“I’m not happy. I want to die. It’s not sad particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented.

“I am 104 years old so I haven’t got much time left anyway.

“I might as well not have it (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes.”

Goodall, a honorary research associate at Edith Cowan University, has made arrangements to travel to Basel, Switzerland, where an end of life clinic has approved his application for euthanasia.

“If one chooses to kill oneself, then that should be fair enough. I don’t think anyone else should interfere.”

An online petition raised $15,000 to help Goodall get to Europe.

He will visit family in France before proceeding to Switzerland, where voluntary euthanasia is legal, to end his life on May 10.