Heartbreaking reason why couple happily married for almost 50 years decided to be euthanised together

Warning: This article contains discussion of assisted dying that some readers may find distressing.

A couple chose to be euthanised together after nearly 50 years of happy marriage.

Jan Faber, 70, and Els van Leeningen, 71, opted to die together by duo-euthanasia - a very rare, but legal way of choosing to end your life, which is slowly becoming more popular in the Netherlands.

The couple had a life-long partnership, having met in their early years at school before going on to marry and welcome a son.

Jan and Els lived the majority of their life on boats and in their final years, in a motorhome.

Assisted dying is becoming more popular in the Netherlands (Getty Stock Image)

Initially, Els trained as a primary school teacher while Jan was a sports coach, but then the couple decided to build a business transporting goods around the Netherlands’ inland waterways.

Jan developed serious back pain due to the heavy-lifting involved in his job, and despite having surgery on his back in 2003, his condition didn't improve.

This sparked a conversation about euthanasia between himself and his wife, and they found themselves joining NVVE – the Netherlands’ 'right to die' organisation.

“If you take a lot of medicine, you live like a zombie,” Jan told the BBC. “So, with the pain I have, and Els’ illness, I think we have to stop this.”

Els retired from teaching in 2018 and was showing early signs of dementia.

In November 2022, she was formally diagnosed with the disease, and later learned her condition would not improve.

The couple chose to die together (Getty Stock Image)

Jan and Els, along with their son, began discussing duo-euthanasia, as they both continued to struggle with their health.

"I’ve lived my life, I don’t want pain anymore,” Jan said. “The life we’ve lived, we’re getting old [for it]. We think it has to be stopped.”

It was noted that if Els' condition worsened, she may not be considered to have the capacity to decide for herself that she wants to die.

The couple made the decision to be euthanised with the support of their loved ones and spent their final day surrounded by their family and best friends.

Jan and Els, along with their loved ones, went to the local hospice the following day and spent two hours together talking and listening to music before doctors came.

“The final half hour was difficult,” the couple's son, who asked not to be named, said. “The doctors arrived and everything happened quickly - they follow their routine, and then it’s just a matter of minutes.”

Els and Jan were administered lethal medication by doctors and died together on Monday 3 June 2024.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.