Rhianna Benson
Earlier today, the family of Tracy Hickham broke the heartbreaking news that the euthanasia campaigner had died following her terminal cancer diagnosis.
The 57-year-old was euthanised in New Zealand - where it has been legalised since 2019 - yesterday (Tuesday 22 May), just days after insisting that she is 'at peace' with her decision to say goodbye on her own terms.
And now, the final moments of how the brave woman intended to end her life have been detailed in a YouTube video.
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During her time in the spotlight, the British-New Zealand national used her platform to fight for others in her position to be able to decide when the time is right for them to go.
She hoped that calling on politicians to reconsider their stance on assisted dying in the UK - where it is illegal - would assist other cancer sufferers in avoiding an 'uncertain and painful death'.
In the days prior to her tragic passing, Tracy - who was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2019 after a routine mammogram - told The Guardian: "Look at what New Zealand has done, and do it even better.
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"There is a lot of focus on the right to life, but people should have the right to a peaceful, gentle death."
And by the sounds of a YouTube video - in which Tracy can be seen opening up on how she intended to spend her final few hours on Earth - the courageous campaigner fulfilled her very last wishes before saying goodbye to her loved ones.
Speaking on her NZ pal Dom Harvey's podcast Dying An Assisted Death a week before her death, Tracy admitted she wanted her final morning to resemble every other normal day.
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Asked how she envisages her day beginning, she told viewers: "It will hopefully have some chocolate for breakfast because I'm a real chocoholic and I'm not going to miss out on that.
"And then we're going to go to a beach with the people I really love, with my sister and her husband, my niece, my partner and a few close friends."
Tracy continued: "I'm going to listen to the waves, see the sea and I will die. I just feel such a huge relief that I'm going to be able to do it in that way.
"It's going to be a very gentle way to die. It's the minimum amount of pain that I could have in order to achieve that, somewhere beautiful. Hopefully online I'm going to have a few close family and friends.
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"I'm originally English and there are people in the UK that aren't going to be able to come and make the trip, but I'm hoping to have them online."
Tracy's passing was announced by her partner Paul Qualtrough and podcasting pal Dom, both of whom penned emotional tributes in her honour.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
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If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.