Such a beautiful boy.. he fought to the very end
Life support withdrawn after long legal fight
Archie Battersbee died in hospital yesterday after weeks of legal battles.
The 12-year-old had been in a coma since he was found unconscious by his mum Hollie Dance in April.
He was being kept alive by a combination of medica l i nter vent ions , i ncludi ng ventilation and drug treatments.
Speaking outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, Hollie said her “beautiful little boy” died at 12.15pm.
Archie’s parents had fought a long-running legal battle over the withdrawal of treatment.
In recent days, they had made bids to the High Court, Court of Appeal and European Court of Human Rights to have him transferred to a hospice to die.
Speaking through tears, Hollie, of Southend, Essex, said “he fought right until the very end”.
She added: “Can I just say, I’m the proudest mum in the world.
“He was such a beautiful little boy and he fought right until the very end, and I am so proud to be his mum.”
In an interview with Sky News, on Friday, Hollie said: “The last however many weeks since April 7, I don’t think there’s been a day that hasn’t been awful really.
“It’s been really hard. Despite the hard strong face and appearance obviously in front of the cameras up until now, I’ve been pretty broken.”
She said the hospital had made it clear there were no more options and that life support
would be withdrawn at 10am yesterday.
Asked if there was anything more she could do, Hollie said: “No. I’ve done everything that I promised my little boy I’d do.”
Alistair Chesser, chief medical off icer at Barts Health NHS
Trust, said: “Archie Battersbee passed away on Saturday afternoon at The Royal London Hospital af ter t reatment was withdrawn in line with court rulings about his best interests.
“Members of his family were
present at the bedside and our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with them at this difficult time.
“The trust would like to thank the medical, nursing and support staff in the paediatric intensive care department who looked after Archie following his awful accident.
“They provided high quality care with ext raordinar y compassion over several months in often trying and distressing circumstances.”
Archie never rega ined consciousness after being found with a ligature around his neck in April.
Supporters brought flowers to the hospital on yesterday.
Shelley Elias, 43, from Stepney, east London, said she “wanted his mum Hollie and the family to know I was thinking of them”.
Andrea Wi l l iams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which backed the family’s case, said: “Our thoughts, prayers and support are with Archie’s family at this tragic moment.”