London: Julian Assange's father has called for his son's "torment" to end, saying the WikiLeaks founder's health is declining after years of stress.

John Shipton, the father of Julian Assange, attends a rally outside the British consulate in Melbourne. Credit:AP

Assange has been living inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than six years amid fears he will be extradited to the US if he leaves.

He was visited on Thursday by his father John Shipton and two German MPs who are campaigning for him to be allowed to leave the embassy without being extradited.

Shipton, who lives in Sydney, said his family wanted to see Assange in normal circumstances again.