We Will keep on fighting , archie
Mum’s vow after life support ruling
THE mum of critically ill Archie Battersbee says she sat by his hospital bed and whispered: “We’ve lost this fight, but we won’t give up.”
Hollie Dance, 46, spoke to him after the devastating news doctors had been given the green light to turn off her son’s life support.
The High Court ruled Archie, 12, would never recover from the injuries he sustained in an online “blackout challenge”.
Last night, just hours after Mrs Justice Arbuthnot’s ruling, Hollie said: “I stroked his hair and held his hand and said we’d keep fighting.
“He’s a 12-year-old boy who’s been given a death sentence.
“I’m not going to give up, this is just the start of the fight. We will appeal.”
Yesterday, Mrs Justice Arbuthnot concluded an MRI scan taken on May 31 showed Archie had died.
But choking back tears, Hollie spoke of her devastation and refused to give up hope, saying: “I know my son is still there.”
Hollie and Archie’s dad, Paul Battersbee, 56, said his heart was still beating and he could eventually recover. Archie was found with a ligature over his head by his mother on April 7 at their home in Southend, Essex.
He has been in a coma since he was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, but has fought a staggering battle for survival. However, the judge said: “If Archie remains on mechanical ventilation, the likely outcome for him is sudden death and the prospects of recovery are nil.” She added: “He has no pleasure in life and his brain damage is irrecoverable.” Alistair Chesser, the chief medical officer at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “This is a sad and difficult time for Archie’s family and our thoughts and sympathies are with them.
“In line with the guidance issued by the court, our expert clinicians will provide the best possible care while life support is withdrawn.
“We are also ensuring there is time for the family to decide whether they wish to appeal before any changes to care are made.”