An 80-year-old Hong Kong man has died in an alleged murder-suicide attempt inside an MTR station toilet, while his disabled wife with dementia has survived.
Staff at Shek Mun MTR station in Sha Tin contacted police at around 4.30pm on Tuesday after finding the couple unconscious inside a public toilet with their heads covered by plastic bags tied with strings.
The 71-year-old woman, who uses a wheelchair, regained consciousness after emergency services personnel attended the scene.
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The pair were rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin but the man was pronounced dead at 5.22pm. The status of the woman’s condition was not available on Tuesday night.
A police source said the man had allegedly put a bag on the woman’s head before doing the same to himself. She was diagnosed with dementia about 15 years ago and had recently moved into a care home, while her husband lived with their son.
The man had collected his wife from the home for an outing on Tuesday, the insider said.
According to the MTR Corporation, a staff member at the station was alerted around 4pm when the alarm in the accessible toilet was triggered. The staff member immediately checked the toilet, unlocking the door after getting no response from knocking.
Police have classified the case as an attempted murder-suicide.
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The Sha Tin district crime squad, which is investigating the incident, urged anyone with information to contact officers at 3661 2723.
Tragedies involving elderly carers have sparked public concern in recent years. Experts have said the estimated 1.3 million carers are under great stress but the government has offered only limited support and Hong Kong lacks carer-centred policies. The city’s rapidly ageing population also adds to the urgency of treating the issue, they have warned.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 18111 for the government-run “Mental Health Support Hotline” or +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans and +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.
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