EXCLUSIVE by Dennis Towle

The sister of a paralysed hit-and-run victim today spoke of her family's agonising decision to allow her son to die.

Matthew Mintern, 24, died at his home in Snaith, near Selby, 12 days after his devoted parents and sister decided to withhold the tube-fed food and water that had kept him alive for the past eight years.

His parents, Margaret, 44, and Kevin, 48, went to the Royal Court of Justice in London last month, where they were given permission by Family Court judge, Stephen Brown, to withdraw Matthew's nutrition and hydration.

The distraught couple - supported by their daughter Cathy - stopped their son's food and water intake via a nasal gastric tube on June 23.

Twelve days later, on July 5, Matthew died at home.

His sister, Cathy, 24, said: "It's been an absolute nightmare, and an extremely difficult decision to take ethically, even though we knew it was the sensible thing to do.

"It's a tragic waste of life, but Matthew's death has also come as a tremendous relief to all the family.

"Although he had periods of being asleep and awake, he was effectively in a coma. He didn't do anything, didn't know what was going on, and had no prospects of improving. All he did was breathe.

"From being a very intelligent, athletic, talented person who loved life, he was transformed into a living corpse."

Cathy said they had been talking about the possibility of going to the Royal Court of Justice for about a year.

She said some people might ask why they had not done anything before then, but it was a question of "where there's life, there's hope".

Cathy added: "We're a very close family and it was only our love and affection for Matthew that stopped us doing anything before now."The last couple of weeks have been awful - I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone. It really puts things in perspective."

She said Matthew was tipped to have a great future ahead of him when at the age of 16, he was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver on the A645 near Snaith in 1990.

The accident happened just a week before Snaith Secondary School announced that Matthew had been their star pupil in the GCSE examinations, gaining eight A-grades.

Says Cathy: "He wanted to go on to study medicine and possibly become a doctor.

"He loved playing football and water sports, and had a tremendous zest for life. To see him lying there day after day was soul-destroying."

Matthew had been looked after at his pub home by his parents and a part-time care team for about six years before he was transferred to a nursing home 18 months ago.

Mr and Mrs Mintern brought him back to the Bell and Crown in Snaith market place so he could spend his last days at home.

Cathy said: "We applied to the court to withdraw his food and drink, so we felt it was our responsibility to do it.

"At the end of the day, we did what we believed was best for Matthew."

Matthew's funeral was being held this afternoon at Snaith Parish Church.

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