Chronically ill elderly Hong Kong couple found dead in suspected charcoal-burning suicide
- Police find couple lying unconsciously in room with burned charcoal and suicide note
An elderly Hong Kong couple have been found dead in their home, in a suspected suicide believed to be related to their chronic illnesses.
Their son-in-law called police at around 9pm on Monday after he lost contact with them.
After arriving at the flat at Lam Tin’s Tak Tin Estate in east Kowloon, police discovered the husband and wife, aged 81 and 77 respectively, lying unconsciously in their room with a tray of burned charcoal next to them. A suicide note was also found at the flat.
The couple were certified dead at the scene. Police said they classified the case as suicide while they continued to investigate.
Sources said the couple “had been unhappy” for a while due to the woman’s medical condition.
Elderly people aged 60 or above have the highest suicide rate among all age groups, as cases continued to rise in recent years. Data from concern group Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong has shown that older age increases the risk of suicide.
