My Archie fought to the very end.. I’m proud of him
Torment as life support cut
MONTHS of family agony and legal battles came to a sad end yesterday when 12-year-old Archie Battersbee died.
The brain-dead lad’s life-support machine was turned off at 10am and he passed away at 12.15pm.
Outside Royal London Hospital in east London, mum Hollie Dance, 46, wiped away tears and told reporters: “I would just like to say I am the proudest mum in the world.
“He was such a beautiful boy. He fought right until the very end.”
Archie’s family were told on Friday evening that the machines supporting him would be turned off after they lost a last-ditch battle at the European Court of Human Rights to
allow him to be moved to a hospice. Sister-in-law Ella Carter said: “He remained completely stable for two hours until they completely removed ventilation and he went completely blue.
“There is absolutely nothing dignified about watching a family member or a child suffocate.
“No family should ever have to go through what we have been through – it is barbaric.” Hollie and Ella then collapsed in each other’s arms and sobbed before walking slowly back into the hospital.
Before Archie’s death, family friends lit candles and laid cards at a shrine outside the hospital.
The family’s five-month ordeal began when Archie lost consciousness at home in Southend, Essex, on April 7 after an incident involving a Tik-tok challenge. He was declared brain-stem dead by
doctors. This started a legal battle involving the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court as the family pushed for time for Archie to recover.
On Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights refused to intervene, meaning Archie’s treatment would be withdrawn – and a last-ditch appeal was rejected on Friday.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, who have been supporting the family’s case, said: “The events raise many significant issues, including questions of how death is defined, how those decisions are made and the place of the family.
“No-one wants to see other families experience what they have been through. We need to see urgent review and reform of the system.”
Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family at this difficult time.”
There was nothing dignified about watching him suffocate