Archie Battersbee has died in hospital after treatment was withdrawn by doctors. The 12-year-old had been in a coma since he was found unconscious in April and was being kept alive by a combination of medical interventions, including ventilation and drug treatments.
Speaking outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, his mum Hollie Dance said her “beautiful little boy” died at 12.15pm on Saturday. Archie’s parents had fought a long-running legal battle over the withdrawal of treatment and in recent days made bids to the High Court, Court of Appeal and European Court of Human Rights to have him transferred to a hospice to die.
Announcing her son’s death to the media, Ms Dance, of Southend, Essex, said “he fought right until the very end”. Speaking through tears, she said: “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.”
