KEY POINTS:
A Wellington couple, inseparable for the past 20 years, have died within 30 minutes of each other.
Elva Taylor, 74, and Stewart Thoumine, 68, were inseparable until Mrs Taylor became ill with Alzheimer's disease about 18 months ago and went to live in a rest home, The Dominion Post reported today.
Mr Thoumine visited her regularly on his mobility scooter, even when she no longer recognised him, but learned last Thursday she had died.
He headed to the rest home to sit with her and suffered a fatal heart attack only minutes later.
Mr Thoumine's brother, Clarrie, said the pair were devoted to each other and his brother had said in the past that he wouldn't want to live any longer should anything happen to his partner.
"I knew he probably wouldn't last more than a few days," Clarrie said following the deaths. "But I didn't think it would happen in that space of time."
- NZPA
