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Suicide Couple's Son Was Paralyzed

Sam died in their arms last week

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2009 3:56 AM CDT

(Newser) – The 5-year-old son of the British couple who leaped to their death was paralyzed and recently died of meningitis, reports the Telegraph. Neil and Kazumi Puttick drove last weekend for 140 miles to Beachy Head in East Sussex where they jumped from the cliffs, clutching a backpack holding their child's body, and another sack filled with his toys. Their son, Sam, was paralyzed from the neck down after a car crash with his mom at the age of 1.
 

The parents quit their jobs to devote all their time to helping Sam recover. He died in their arms of meningitis last week, said friends. "They adored Sam and were totally devoted to him" said a neighbor. "Losing him was just too much for them."

Sam's Puttick's parents filmed him on his exercise bike. Sam died of meningitis and his parents leaped to their deaths clutching a backback carrying Sam's body.
Sam's Puttick's parents filmed him on his exercise bike. Sam died of meningitis and his parents leaped to their deaths clutching a backback carrying Sam's body.   (stuff4sam)
Neil and Kazumi Puttick leaped to their deaths from the white cliffs of Beachy Head, clutching the body of their son.
Neil and Kazumi Puttick leaped to their deaths from the white cliffs of Beachy Head, clutching the body of their son.   (©CanonClicks)
Sam Puttick before he was paralyzed in a car crash. He died last week of meningitis, and his parents committed suicide clutching his body.
Sam Puttick before he was paralyzed in a car crash. He died last week of meningitis, and his parents committed suicide clutching his body.
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Sam Puttick on a special exercise bike that moves his muscles and helps build up his immune system.   (stuff4sam)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Chudluv
Jun 7, 2009 4:28 AM CDT
Reader, unless you know from personal experience the death of a child. You know crap how lonely life can be after a death of a child, how painful it is to walk around your house where memory's of that child were made, and lasting it is.... I know only one other person on here, beside myself, who has lost a child, and that is CX (something). I don't know about him, but there were days I wanted to join my twins in death, and really NO ONE or thing would have stopped that. So, support groups, family, or friends do no good when you feel death is the only recourse.
cfbailey
Jun 3, 2009 12:04 PM CDT
heart breaking story
IndependentThinker
Jun 3, 2009 4:46 AM CDT
Your words speak volumes of truth.

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