Tony Nicklinson, 57, is almost completely paralysed and communicates through a specially adapted computer which records blinks and tiny head movements.

Earlier this year the father of two from Wiltshire won the right to ask a court to declare that a doctor can end his life, with a hearing due to take place tomorrow.

Last week, he joined Twitter in order to communicate with the wider world and already has more than 14,000 followers.

He has now been inundated with comments from people all around the globe, with some praising his brave campaign and others begging him to change his mind.

<noframe>Twitter: TonyNicklinson - Hello world. I am tony nicklinson, I have locked-in syndrome and this is my first ever tweet. <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=tony" target="_blank">#tony</a></noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: TonyNicklinson - I can't believe I have over 12,600 followers. Never thought I was that interesting.<a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=tony" target="_blank">#tony</a></noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: TonyNicklinson - People want to know if I will change my mind because of Twitter. Let's hear the judgement first and maybe I'll tell you.<a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=tony" target="_blank">#tony</a></noframe>

One, who provided a link to a health website, said: "This might change your mind. You are important."

Another wrote: "I do beleive [sic]in Miracles and will pray for you. God will heal you one day. God bless you, He loves you so very much."

A third said: "I feel you have the right to as you wish. But I would like to see you stick around to see how many of us really care."

In response, Mr Nicklinson has said: "People want to know if I will change my mind because of Twitter. Let's hear the judgement first and maybe I'll tell you."

In an email interview with the Independent newspaper, Mr Nicklinson said: “I do believe that it is a person’s first human right to be able to determine when, where and how to end his own life.

“All this talk about a person’s life being ‘a gift from God and only he can decide when a person’s life can end’ is utter rubbish.

“I object to being told what I can and cannot do by a faith I don’t believe in (for the record I am an atheist).

“I feel that I am denied my most basic human right; I object to society telling me that I must live until I die of natural causes and I will do all I can to restore those rights.”

<noframe>Twitter: Beth Nicklinson - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TonyNicklinson" target="_blank">@TonyNicklinson</a> This clearly shows how many people support your rights! Yay! Love you xxx</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: Chad Sanborn - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TonyNicklinson" target="_blank">@TonyNicklinson</a> I would hate to see you depart this world without fully exploring all you can do. <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=KeepBlinking" target="_blank">#KeepBlinking</a></noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: Sr. Lillian - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TonyNicklinson" target="_blank">@TonyNicklinson</a> I do beleive in Miracles and will pray for you. God will heal you one day. God bless you, He loves you so very much.</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: î&OElig;&rdquo;Renata AssunÃ§Ã£oî&OElig;&rdquo; - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TonyNicklinson" target="_blank">@TonyNicklinson</a> God loves you he will not put on this earth in vain, you and your life and important to him, God bless you.</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: Chad Sanborn - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TonyNicklinson" target="_blank">@TonyNicklinson</a> I would hate to see you depart this world without fully exploring all you can do. <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=KeepBlinking" target="_blank">#KeepBlinking</a></noframe>

In a personal statement to the court, the former rugby player has spoken of being “fed up” with the “indignity and misery” of life almost seven years after suffering a stroke during a business trip to Greece.

Describing his helplessness, he added: “I cannot scratch if I itch, I cannot pick my nose if it is blocked and I can only eat if I am fed like a baby – only I won't grow out of it, unlike the baby.”

But now Mr Nicklinson has been persuaded to join the social networking site to help him communicate with a broader audience and follow and join debates.

This first message read: “Hello world. I am tony nicklinson, I have locked-in syndrome and this is my first ever tweet. #tony”

His daughter Lauren followed a few moments later with a message reading: “Hi Dad! Very proud you are managing to work twitter! See you tomorrow evening. Love Lauren xx” Within two hours he had 147 followers.

Mr Nicklinson’s wife Jane said that it had been relatively simple to connect his specially adapted computer to the site.

“He has never been one to be shy with what he says, this is something where he can do that,” she said.

“He had to be coaxed in to doing it and I hope he will continue, I think it might be good for him.