A mum is begging doctors to keep her son alive after he was found unconscious at home with a ligature around his neck. Hollie Dance, 46, is in a legal battle with Royal London Hospital over its plan to withdraw life support for 12-year-old Archie Battersbee.
Archie - a keen boxer and gymnast - has not regained consciousness after his mum found him at their home in Southend, Essex, following a "freak accident" on April 7. Hollie has called for doctors to give her son more time to recover from his coma and is appearing at the Royal Courts of Justice to fight her case today.
But medical experts say that the youngster is likely to already be brain dead and that it is in his "best interests" to remove life support.
Hollie said: "Archie had a severe brain injury only four weeks ago, there's not been enough time to see what he can do. I've refused the brain stem testing to declare him brain dead. It's too soon.
“He has squeezed my fingers with a tight grip. I think that's his way of letting me know he's still here and just needs more time.
"Only a few days ago, he began to open his eyes. When his ventilator tube was being replaced, tears appeared in his eyes.
“Until it's God's way I won't accept he should go. I know of miracles when people have come back from being brain dead. He may not be the same as he was, but if there's a possibility he could live a happy life after this, I want to give it to him."
A petition calling for doctors to give Archie more time to recover from his coma has gained 4,200 signatures since launching two days ago. Celebrity boxers like David Haye and Ricky Hatton have also offered their support to Archie's family in video messages.
The family is receiving legal aid from the Christian Legal Centre.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the organisation, said: "We are standing with Archie and his family every step of the way. We want to give him every chance of life. It can never be in the 'best interests' of a child to die when there is still hope.
“This case raises the significant moral, legal and medical question as to when a person is dead. Archie’s parents do not accept that he is dead and are fighting for his life.
“Archie’s parents should be given every chance to pursue all the available medical avenues they can before having the support shut down. People should not have life support withdrawn prematurely in our hospitals. Archie must be given every chance and the wishes of his parents supported and respected.”
The Royal London Hospital was contacted for comment.
The petition can be found here.
