Tributes have poured in for tragic schoolboy Archie Battersbee after he passed away after having his life support switched off today.
The 12-year-old had been in hospital since April after he suffered a catastrophic brain injury, with his parents launching a desperate bid to continue his treatment.
Mum Hollie Dance said outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, this afternoon that Archie "fought right until the very end".
She said: "In sadness, Archie passed at 12.15pm today. I would just like to say I am the proudest mum in the world.
"He was such a beautiful little boy. He fought right until the very end and I am so proud to be his mum."
Doctors treating Archie said he was brain-stem dead and that continued life-support treatment was not in his best interests.
Candles, messages and a teddy for Archie have been left outside the hospital, on the pedestal of the Queen Alexandria statue.
And celebrities have now started to pour out loving tributes to Archie following the news of his devastating death.
Piers Morgan was first to address the child's tragic passing as he took to Twitter to share supportive words for Archie's devastated family and loved-ones.
The former Good Morning Britain star, 57, took to Twitter to re-share a news article announcing Archie's death.
Alongside it, he penned: "Such an incredibly sad story. My heart breaks for Hollie & her family. RIP Archie."
TalkTV presenter Richard Tice also rushed to pay tribute to Archie as he penned: "So sad. RIP Archie Battersbee and deepest sympathies to his family and friends."
BAFTA nominee Kelly Hoppen also shared her heartbreak after hearing the sad news of Archie's passing.
The author took to Twitter to write: "My heart goes out to #ArchieBattersbee family - a mothers instinct is something that can’t be shown via a legal process and I can’t imagine what Archie’s family have been through."
Author and palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke also shared her condolences on Twitter.
She penned: "A desperate day for Archie Battersbee's parents. Even when the relationship between family and hospital is strong, these situations are heartbreaking. When trust breaks down, even more so."
The loving tributes come after Archie 's brave mum said that she had done everything she promised her son she would do as the family prepared for his life support to be withdrawn on this morning.
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.
The 12-year-old had been in a coma since he was found unconscious by his mother in April and is being kept alive by a combination of medical interventions, including ventilation and drug treatments.
In an interview with Sky News, recorded on Friday, Archie's mother Hollie Dance said she is 'pretty broken' and that the day had been 'absolutely awful'.
Breaking down, she said: "The last however many weeks since 7th April, 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."
Asked if there was anything more she can do, Ms Dance said: "No. I've done everything that I promised my little boy I'd do. And I've done it."
Rest in peace Archie.
