Latest news with #Florian
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Suicide pod activist dies by assisted suicide after arrest for woman's death
In a statement following the announcement of his death, suicide pod creator Philip Nitschke claimed Florian Willet had been "broken" by allegations made against him A suicide pod activist credited as playing a key role in bringing the controversial death capsules to Switzerland has died by assisted suicide. Florian Willet, president of euthanasia organisation The Last Resort, was the only person present when a 64-year-old American woman used the Dutch-designed pod last year on September 23. The pod, known as a Sarco, was designed by Philip Nitschke, who followed the process at the time via video call. Following the incident, Willet was arrested and released after 10 weeks in detention. Willet's death in Germany was announced by Exit International, who said he died last month on May 5. Australian-born Nitschke claimed Willet had been affected by the allegations of manslaughter made against him and had recently been recovering from injuries sustained in a fall from his Zurich apartment. He said: 'Florian's spirit was broken. He knew that he did nothing illegal or wrong, but his belief in the rule of law in Switzerland was in tatters.' Nitschke added: 'To describe Florian is to talk of a man who was thoughtful, caring, funny and friendly. He was an easy person to be around. But most of all, Florian was kind. Florian was also passionate about a person's right to choose when to die.' He had help in his suicide from a 'specialized organization' in Cologne, Nitschke told the Volkskrant. Despite the incident and the controversy it caused, Nitschke, who rejected the allegations that the woman in the pod had been strangled, has continued to develop his Sarco pod. He has gone so far as to tell Prospect Magazine he is developing one which can fit two people. Alongside developing a new version of the pod, Nitschke told the publication he wants to introduce a new safety system inside the pod. This system would use AI to screen people to check their mental capacity before they activate the device. He explained: 'When I get my artificial intelligence process working to check mental capacity. The software will say, 'Yes, this person has got mental capacity that allows the power to switch on in the Sarco.'' However, following the death of the American woman, Nitschke has reportedly been advised to stay in the Netherlands by his legal team. For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@ visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Suicide pod activist Dr Florian Willet takes own life after arrest over ‘murder' of woman who used euthanasia device
A SUICIDE pod activist has taken his own life after being interrogated over the murder of a woman who died in one of the euthanasia devices. Florian Willet, 47, suffered a mental health crisis after he was arrested by Swiss Police last year, according to Philip Nitschke, the inventor of the Sarco suicide capsule. 2 The Sarco assisted suicide capsule Credit: AFP 2 Florian Willet has taken his own life at 47 Credit: AFP Willet, from Germany, was the director of Last Resort, the Swiss suicide organisation which operated the Sarco pods. He was also a prominent right-to-die activist. The director was investigated for aiding and abetting suicide. As part of the probe, prosecutors investigated whether he strangled the woman, but that was ruled out. Willet was released in December after being held in pre-trial detention for 70 days. Nitschke, who also directs pro-assisted dying group Exit International, said: 'Gone was his warm smile and self-confidence. In its place was a man who seemed deeply traumatised by the experience of incarceration and the wrongful accusation of strangulation." He revealed that his colleague Willet sought help and went into hospital twice before his death on May 5. Willet reportedly died in Germany with the help of a specialist organisation, though it is not known exactly how he died. Nitschke continued: 'To describe Florian is to talk of a man who was thoughtful, caring, funny, and friendly. He was an easy person to be around. 'But most of all, Florian was kind. Florian was also passionate about a person's right to choose when to die.' More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Suicide pod activist Dr Florian Willet takes own life after arrest over ‘murder' of woman who used euthanasia device
A SUICIDE pod activist has taken his own life after being interrogated over the murder of a woman who died in one of the euthanasia devices. Florian Willet, 47, suffered a mental health crisis after he was arrested by Swiss Police last year, according to Philip Nitschke, the inventor of the Sarco suicide capsule. 2 The Sarco assisted suicide capsule Credit: AFP 2 Florian Willet has taken his own life at 47 Credit: AFP Willet, from Germany, was the director of Last Resort, the Swiss suicide organisation which operated the Sarco pods. He was also a prominent right-to-die activist. The director was investigated for aiding and abetting suicide. As part of the probe, prosecutors investigated whether he strangled the woman, but that was ruled out. Willet was released in December after being held in pre-trial detention for 70 days. Nitschke, who also directs pro-assisted dying group Exit International, said: 'Gone was his warm smile and self-confidence. In its place was a man who seemed deeply traumatised by the experience of incarceration and the wrongful accusation of strangulation." He revealed that his colleague Willet sought help and went into hospital twice before his death on May 5. Willet reportedly died in Germany with the help of a specialist organisation, though it is not known exactly how he died. Most read in The US Sun Nitschke continued: 'To describe Florian is to talk of a man who was thoughtful, caring, funny, and friendly. He was an easy person to be around. 'But most of all, Florian was kind. Florian was also passionate about a person's right to choose when to die.' More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at YOU'RE NOT ALONE EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide. It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, Heads Together, Mind, Papyrus, Samaritans,
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘My Father's Shadow' Review: Nigeria's First Ever Cannes Selection Marks a Miraculous Gem of Autofiction
'My Father's Shadow' pulls off a miraculous, double-edged feat with a rather simple structure. The film, written by brothers Akinola and Wale Davies and directed by the former, spans one day in the life of two young boys traveling with their father from a small village in rural Nigeria to the bustling capital city Lagos. However, as the audience is taken in by this intimate and well-observed drama, the rug gets pulled from beneath them by revealing the violence and strife that was simmering underneath. It's a trick so devastating that it completely upends the movie, elevating it into a deeply humanist narrative. As shown in opening scenes, the two brothers, Akin and Remi, have a playful, antagonistic relationship with each other, as most brothers close in age do. There's love, one-upmanship and slight resentment. Their bond is further deepened by their mutual admiration for their father, Florian (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù). That's immediately evident in the way their manner becomes quieter and more reserved when they are around him. They don't see much of him since he's earning a living in the capital. This distance adds reverence to how the kids see their father; he's more of a mythical figure in their eyes than their parent. More from Variety Rihanna Stuns Cannes Red Carpet in the Rain to Support A$AP Rocky at 'Highest 2 Lowest' World Premiere Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and A$AP Rocky (and Rihanna!) Stun Cannes as 'Highest 2 Lowest' Earns 5.5-Minute Ovation Dakota Johnson and Michael Angelo Covino's Open Marriage Comedy 'Splitsville' Cracks Up Cannes, Earning 6-Minute Standing Ovation While their mother is away at work, Florian takes his sons with him for a day trip to Lagos. He's going to collect his wages. On the way, their bus breaks down and they have to hitchhike. Once in Lagos, they meet a few people, strange to the children but who seem familiar with Florian. They take a trip to the beach. Florian isn't able to see his boss and collect his money. All of this is presented in thoughtfully written scenes that always foreground the characters rather than the story's plot points. The screenplay is attuned to how children can interpret the alien world of adults. The camera watches all that's happening from the open-hearted, but slightly confused gaze of the young brothers. This story, written by two brothers and made by two brothers, is semi-autobiographical. That authentic historical context is further enhanced by setting the film on the day that the results of the tumultuous 1993 Nigerian election are announced. Florian, and some of the people he interacts with, are hopeful. They see a change coming. Yet TVs and radios keep announcing news of unrest, of opposition revolts being brutally crushed by the army. Hope is replaced with dread. The storytelling always remains within the POV of the boys, never revealing more than they would understand, adding emotional potency to the narrative. Meanwhile, Florian is a creation of cinematic beauty. The Davies brothers have crafted a father of mythic proportions. He's an object of idolatry, as any father is in the eyes of his children. Dìrísù, in a revelatory performance that should put him at the top of casting lists, grounds that fantasy with a realistically intense but quiet performance. He plays the father both as a romanticized vision, seen through the eyes of his boys, and as a man going through a tough time in his life, trying to juggle multiple responsibilities to his family, work and country. There are allusions that Florian has been, or may still be, politically active. He's stopped by more than one person as he travels through Lagos. His young boys see the respect these men give him, and the leadership he commands effortlessly. They also watch how women react to his confident sexy demeanor. This offers Dìrísù many volatile colors to his performance: rage, desire, humiliation, helplessness, bravery — all of it simmering below every composed sentence he utters and every measured movement he takes. The filmmakers' other master stroke is in casting brothers Chibuike Marvellous Egbo and Godwin Egbo to play Akin and Remi respectively. There is a natural and effortless authenticity to their interactions, whether they are loving or contentious to one another. Is it because they are instinctively gifted actors or because they are actual brothers? Both. Though ultimately, it doesn't matter because their synchronized performances give the film a jolt of effortless grace. As if by being so natural and at ease together, they are boosting the film's already acutely felt authenticity. At the beginning of 'My Father's Shadow,' the filmmakers allude to the fantastical element of the movie. In voiceover, we hear one of the boys say 'In my dreams I will see you.' Akinola and Wale Davies' film may be semi-autobiographical, but it's also a haunting imagination of what they could have had. What transpires could have happened, but perhaps it didn't. Therein lies the strength of the film; they imagined their childhood full of interactions they wish they had. In crafting a fictitious version of their own lives, they managed to create a meaningful memory to hold on to and persevere through — for them and for anyone lucky enough to see their film. Best of Variety The Best Albums of the Decade
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Change Of Directors On ANZ New Zealand Board
ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited (ANZ NZ) announced today that Mr Gerard Florian, ANZ Group Executive Technology & Group Services, has retired from its Board. Mr Florian has been a non-executive director of ANZ NZ since October 2022. ANZ NZ also announced today that Mr Mark Whelan, ANZ Group Executive Institutional, would be joining its Board as a non-executive director effective immediately. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has confirmed they have no objection to Mr Whelan's appointment. The other members of the ANZ NZ Board are Scott St John (Chair), Dame Joan Withers, Mark Tume, Nagaja Sanatkumar, Carolyn Steele and ANZ NZ CEO and Group Executive Antonia Watson. ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited Get on top of your money ANZ has been helping New Zealanders get on top of their money ever since we opened for business in 1840. We were New Zealand's first bank and today we have a large network of full-service branches and ATMs, and talented people across the country. We're passionate about helping our customers make their money work harder and equipping them to make better financial decisions. Whether it's travelling the world, buying a home, building a business, investing for the future or protecting their family's future, we use our financial strength and expertise to help make it happen. Through our sponsorships, our Staff Foundation and thousands of staff volunteer hours each year, we support causes that make a difference to New Zealanders.
