Time running out for boy taken from hospital bed
POLICE pleaded for help last night to find a critically ill fiveyear-old boy snatched from hospital by his parents.
Ashya King, who has a brain tumour, is at the centre of an international hunt after he was taken from Southampton General Hospital by his Jehovah’s Witness parents Brett and Naghmeh.
The family, including his six siblings travelled to France by ferry and it is thought they may be heading for Spain.
Police said last night that Ashya needs round-the-clock treatment. They fear the battery in a feeding tube keeping him alive has run out and the Kings may not have any spares.
Hampshire Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said: “Time is running out for this little boy.
“With each hour that passes our concern grows. Our message is: Please help us find him.”
Ashya’s family took him from hospital at around 2pm on Thursday and later boarded a ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg.
Police said there was a delay of more than six hours between the boy going missing and officers being told he had been taken without doctors’ consent.
Mr Shead said Ashya had under- a grey Hyundai I800 Style CRDI, registration KP60 HWK. Ashya is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, he cannot communicate verbally and is immobile.
Hampshire police said they were working with French forces to find the family, who may be heading for Spain as Mr King is listed on a networking site as a property company director in Marbella.
Ashya’s paternal grandmother, Patricia King described her son as a “wonderful” father and added: “All I would say to Brett is: ‘Please, bring him back.’”
In a video posted on YouTube last month, Ashya’s brother, Naveed, said: “We love you so much. We’re all here for you. Everyone is praying for you.”