WW2 veteran is 'living again' after winning court battle to die at home

A blind 98-year-old war veteran who won a High Court battle to leave his care home, says he feels he is ‘living again’ thanks to his return to his Southend bungalow, where he now receives home care.

Pensioner told 'smile' at home care workers 'until your teeth hurt'

Douglas Meyers – an ex-Royal Navy gunner in the Second World War - fought hard and secured victory in the Family Division of the High Court for his right to leave his care home and die in his own home, where he’d lived for 40 years.

After assessing the care options, the judge, Mr Justice Hayden, earlier this year ruled that the blind veteran could return home with a "suitable package of support".

Speaking from his home to a judge via a telephone link, the 98-year-old said of his return to his bungalow: “I have had eight days of living again”.

During the call, the judge told the pensioner he had to be nice to the home care workers visiting his bungalow, co-operate and smile at them “until your teeth hurt”.

With the mental capacity to make his own decisions, Mr Meyers took his case to court and could be seen before the judge in a wheelchair holding onto a collection of his war medals.

At the time, Mr Meyers told Mr Justice Hayden: "I am a veteran and I am due the respect of a veteran who wants to end his life in his home."

Barrister Parishil Patel QC and solicitor Laura Hobey-Hamsher represented the pensioner for free during his court case.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, responsible for the elderly man’s welfare, had asked for a ruling from the judge on what was in Douglas Meyers’ best interests, after Mr Meyers was denied the right to live at home twice.