The parents of a man who has been in a coma since being trampled in a soccer disaster in England have won the right to stop his life-support systems.
A judge ruled in London Nov. 19 that Allen and Barbara Bland can stop feeding their son Tony. The 21-year-old was injured during the disaster in Hillsborough in 1989 when 95 people were killed after a surge of soccer fans.
In making his decision, High Court Judge Sir Stephen Brown said Bland was already dead.
“His spirit has left him and all that remains is the shell of his body,” the judge said.
Airedale General Hospital in West Yorkshire is now allowed to follow the wishes of the parents and disconnect the feeding tube.
