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'Power of attorney more important than will', says widow | 'Power of attorney more important than will', says widow |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The wife of a man who died in an electric skateboard crash has spoken of the importance of a legal document that let him "die with dignity". | The wife of a man who died in an electric skateboard crash has spoken of the importance of a legal document that let him "die with dignity". |
Bradley Visser, 38, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury when he crashed near their Oxfordshire home on 17 July. | Bradley Visser, 38, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury when he crashed near their Oxfordshire home on 17 July. |
Previously, he had given wife Annie Visser lasting power of attorney status in the event of such a situation. | |
She said the document showed he did not want to live with brain damage and had been more important than a will. | She said the document showed he did not want to live with brain damage and had been more important than a will. |
'Kind gentle giant' | 'Kind gentle giant' |
Mrs Visser, who has two young children with Mr Visser, recalled the day of the crash, which happened just 200m from their home in the village of Stoke Row. | Mrs Visser, who has two young children with Mr Visser, recalled the day of the crash, which happened just 200m from their home in the village of Stoke Row. |
"I'd taken the kids to London and I'd just got back to Reading station, having spoken to him 20 minutes before. | "I'd taken the kids to London and I'd just got back to Reading station, having spoken to him 20 minutes before. |
"As soon as I got back to my car I got a phone call from a friend saying the air ambulance was with Brad on the road outside our house." | "As soon as I got back to my car I got a phone call from a friend saying the air ambulance was with Brad on the road outside our house." |
After six days of emergency treatment for a bilateral brain haemorrhage at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, Mr Visser developed double pneumonia and died on 27 July. | After six days of emergency treatment for a bilateral brain haemorrhage at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, Mr Visser developed double pneumonia and died on 27 July. |
Mrs Visser called him "the life and soul of the party", an "incredibly proud South African" and "incredibly talented cabinet maker". | Mrs Visser called him "the life and soul of the party", an "incredibly proud South African" and "incredibly talented cabinet maker". |
"Brad was the most honest, generous and kind gentle giant you could come across... this is a man who is too precious to be remembered for falling off a skateboard." | "Brad was the most honest, generous and kind gentle giant you could come across... this is a man who is too precious to be remembered for falling off a skateboard." |
Previously, Mr Visser had given his wife power of attorney in a document stipulating she should not try to keep him alive if certain "life perimeters" were not met. | Previously, Mr Visser had given his wife power of attorney in a document stipulating she should not try to keep him alive if certain "life perimeters" were not met. |
She said: "If he couldn't be a daddy, if he couldn't go to a rugby match, if he couldn't provide for his family by working, and if he couldn't be physically active, he didn't want to be here." | She said: "If he couldn't be a daddy, if he couldn't go to a rugby match, if he couldn't provide for his family by working, and if he couldn't be physically active, he didn't want to be here." |
The POA meant she could present the hospital with a legal document stipulating his wishes, and had the power to make life decisions for her husband instead of the hospital. | The POA meant she could present the hospital with a legal document stipulating his wishes, and had the power to make life decisions for her husband instead of the hospital. |
In accordance with Mr Visser's wishes, his life support machine was switched off and he died two days later. | In accordance with Mr Visser's wishes, his life support machine was switched off and he died two days later. |
Mrs Visser now wants to spread the word about the importance of having such a legal document "to do something positive in Brad's name". | Mrs Visser now wants to spread the word about the importance of having such a legal document "to do something positive in Brad's name". |
"It is a document with far more importance than a will, yet no-one knows of it. That is what I am trying to change," she said. | |
"I genuinely think if I didn't have this piece of paper I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning. | "I genuinely think if I didn't have this piece of paper I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning. |
"The guilt of having to make a decision with no background knowledge on what that person genuinely wants is actually worse than the end result. | "The guilt of having to make a decision with no background knowledge on what that person genuinely wants is actually worse than the end result. |
"I have been able to be as strong as I have been for myself and for the children purely because every step of the way I feel like I have Brad stood next to me." | "I have been able to be as strong as I have been for myself and for the children purely because every step of the way I feel like I have Brad stood next to me." |
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