Julie James: why my son had the right to die | The Swiss suicide clinic | David Hands: Increased risk of injury for amateurs

The “assisted suicide” of a young rugby player who was left paralysed last year when a scrum collapsed is being investigated by police.

Dan James, who once played for England Under-16s, died last month after travelling to a Swiss euthanasia clinic with his parents, Mark and Julie.

The 23-year-old looked destined for a professional playing career before he was left paralysed from the the chest down after his spine was dislocated while training with Nuneaton Rugby Club in March 2007.

An inquest into his death was opened last month. The circumstances of the death were recorded as: “Deceased travelled to Switzerland with a view to ending his own life. He was admitted to a clinic where he died.”

He is one of the youngest Britons to have travelled to Switzerland for an assisted suicide.

The former pupil at Worcester Royal Grammar School was the son of Stuart James, who is listed as the Director of Rugby at Worcester Wanderers - an amateur club linked to Guinness Premiership club Worcester Warriors.

Mr James and his wife have being interviewed by police as part of an investigation into his death.

Det Insp Adrian Todd, of West Mercia Police, said: “A police investigation is ongoing and officers have spoken with a man and a woman in connection with the case. A report will later be submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and an inquest into the death will take place in due course.”

Mr and Mrs James, from Sinton Green, near Worcester, have refused to comment on the investigation.

In April, Mrs James told the Worcester News about the moment she heard about the injury as part of an appeal to raise £100,000 for spinal injury research.

“It was so sudden,” she said. "We had no build-up to it, it just happened. We got a phone call saying Dan had a bit of a knock at rugby. That was it.

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