British woman, 57, with terminal breast cancer is euthanised 'on a beach in the sunshine' in New Zealand surrounded by loved ones days after urging UK to change its laws on assisted dying

A British woman with terminal breast cancer was euthanised 'on a beach in the sunshine' in New Zealand just days after urging the UK to change its laws on assisted dying.

Tracy Hickman, 57, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in March 2019, had been fighting for euthanasia rights in the UK before passing away on Wednesday.

In a heartfelt tribute posted on Instagram, social media and Tracy's podcasting pal star Dom Harvey shared a picture of the pair alongside a caption that read: 'Tracy Hickman passed away peacefully today.

'She was on a beach in the sunshine, surrounded by her loved ones. It was exactly what she wanted.

'It was an honour being able to share her story'.

Tracy Hickman, 57, died by euthanasia on Wednesday on a beach in Bew Zealand, her pal Dom Harvey and husband Paul confirmed on Instagram

The British-New Zealand national had suffered with terminal breast cancer since 2019 and urged the UK to change its laws on assisted dying

Tracy, pictured with husband Paul, said seriously ill people like her in Britain should be given choices about how their life should end

Among the hundreds of supportive and emotional comments under the post was one written by Tracy's partner Paul.

'Thanks for your handling of this story,' he wrote.

'It has been sensitive, and the family really appreciated how you brought it to people's attention in a way that allowed her to raise the awareness she wanted without sensationalising it nor seeking attention.

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'Thank you so much for turning the simple legacy she sought for her young great nieces and others into something really special.'

Tracy was euthanised in New Zealand - where it has been legalised since 2019, just days after sharing a defiant message on social media where she claimed she was 'at peace' with her decision to end her life on her own terms.

Last week, the British-New Zealand national told her fans in a brave statement: 'The closer it  gets, the more peaceful I feel.

'But I'm so sorry for causing distress to my family and friends, although they understand.

'The alternative is to live for another couple of months or so but have an uncertain and painful death.'

Tracy often spoke out on laws around assisted dying in the UK, and used her online platform to fight for others in her position to be able to decide when the right time is for them to pass away.

'Look at what New Zealand has done, and do it even better,' she said of her message to UK politicians, speaking to The Guardian.

Social media personality and podcast Dom Harvey posted a photo of a sunset on his Instagram alongside a message from Tracy's sister thanking him for a podcast he did on Tracy's life

'There is a lot of focus on the right to life, but people should have the right to a peaceful, gentle death.'

In New Zealand, laws brought in under the End of Life Choice Act in 2019 enable competent adults to choose an assisted death - under the strict conditions that they have a terminal illness, are aged 18 or over, and have six months to live.

Linda Clarke - Tracy's sister who lives in the UK - echoed her call's to the UK government

'If Tracy was still in the UK, I'd have to watch her go through a horrific death,' she told the British newspaper.

Tracy was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2019 after a routine mammogram, despite being fit, a vegetarian, and non-drinker.

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The diagnosis was followed by surgery and chemotherapy. She said she suffered side-effects, such as hearing loss and 'chemo brain', but the cancer receded.

This allowed her to return to work and run marathons.

However, by February 2023, the cancer returned and spread, while further treatments led to more side effects, including serious pain.

Tracy told the newspaper that at this stage, she was not eligible for an assisted death as doctors believed she had more than six months to live.

She said she even considered suicide by refusing to eat or drink.

Her prognosis changed in March this year when doctors discovered dozens of tumours in her brain and advised she probably only had three months to live.

This, she said, was a 'huge shock' and has led to her taking morphine.

Following her diagnosis, Tracy applied for an assisted death through New Zealand's simple process that includes an assessment from two doctors.

A medical team administered her drugs while she relaxed on a beach, until she lost consciousness within a few minutes while listening to the waves surrounded by family.

Euthanasia, or medically assisted death, is currently illegal in both the UK and the wider British Isles, and currently any medic or person who performs euthanasia can face prosecution for manslaughter or murder.

Even helping a terminally ill person take their own life, called assisted suicide, is an offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

While no specific law on assisted suicide exists in Scotland, helping someone end their own life could lead to a prosecution for culpable homicide in circumstances where a court determines a person's death was not entirely voluntary.