Parents make Beachy Head suicide pact after son's death (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Parents make Beachy Head suicide pact after son's death

12:40pm Tuesday 2nd June 2009

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The identities of a west Wiltshire family whose bodies were found at Beachy Head in East Sussex on Sunday have been confirmed today.

Neil Puttick, 34, and his 44-year-old wife Kazumi, who lived at Wishing Well Farm, opposite Brokerswood Country Park, in Brokerswood, between Trowbridge and Westbury, leapt off a 600ft cliff with the body of their severely disabled five-year-old son, Sam, inside one rucksack and another rucksack filled with his toys.

Sam, who was a pupil at Westbury Leigh Primary School and who had been paralysed from the neck down in a car accident when he was 18-months-old, had died at home after contracting meningitis.

His parents had spent thousands of pounds converting their picturesque home into a miniature hospital for Sam, who required 24-hour care from a team of highly trained nurses.

He was unable to breathe by himself and was fed with oxygen but had a specially adapted wheelchair that he steered by blowing through an air tube.

Sam was being treated at the paediatric intensive care unit at the Bristol Royal Hospital for children for pneumococcal meningitis, but was released on Friday so he could die peacefully at home.

A spokesman for Bath and North East Somerset NHS said: "When it became clear that Sam had no hope of recovery from his severe infection, he was discharged to his family home at his parents' request."

Sam was certified dead at Wishing Well Farm by a doctor at about 8pm on Friday.

Friends of the family, Sue and Barry Capon, who own Brokerswood County Park, said they were shocked and devastated at the news of his death.

Neighbour Sue Hawkins, 41, whose husband Dave worked on the Puttick's farm, said: "Sam used to come up and visit in his wheelchair.

"He would visit our orphaned lambs and he used to name them, bless him. They were very quiet people and kept themselves to themselves.

"They adored Sam. All they ever talked about was Sam and they always had him with them.

"He had endless carers but I thought he was looking worse than usual lately.

"He was struggling to speak more and and had tubes and would struggle to eat and drink.

"But they were a lovely family who loved coming up to see the animals and tractors on our farms.

"This is so awful, they were such a sweet family, and you wouldn't find anyone who had a bad word to say about them."

Mary Murray, headteacher at Westbury Leigh Primary School where Sam was a pupil, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sam and his parents in tragic circumstances.

“Sam joined us last September and it has been a real privilege to have him with us. He was a determined and happy little boy.

“We are very grateful that Sam’s parents chose Westbury Leigh School and our thoughts and condolences are with the rest of the family.

The whole school community will miss Sam’s cheeky smile.”

Det Insp Ian Williams, of Sussex Police, said: "I am satisfied that Samuel's grieving parents Neil and Kazumi appear to have taken their own lives.

"This is a tragic incident and we extend our sympathies to their family and to the large number of friends and carers affected."

The deaths will be the subject of an extensive investigation and inquest.

If you knew Neil and Kazumi Puttick, or their son Sam, and would like to leave a tribute then click on the comment button below, or email wtimes@newswilts.co.uk

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