Hospital grants patient's dying wish for a glass of wine and cigarette

A Danish hospital has granted a 75-year-old patient's dying wish — to enjoy a cigarette and a glass of white wine while watching the sun go from his hospital balcony.

Carsten Flemming Hansen was admitted to Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark last week after he suffered a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Too ill to undergo surgery, he was given days if not hours to live. This was when he revealed his dying wish to his nurse Rikke Kvist.

"That was when I remembered that we are on the same floor that has access to a balcony," Ms Kvist told Avisen.dk.

Staff then decided to wheel Mr Hansen's bed out to the balcony and let him enjoy a final drink and smoke while he admired the sunset, granting an exception to the hospital's no smoking policy.

"It was a very cosy and relaxed atmosphere," Ms Kvist said.

Despite relatives there who were upset, Ms Kvist added that it was "cosy and there was humour".

The hospital shared the image on its Facebook page, which was shared more than 4,500 times and liked almost 70,000 times.