Archie Battersbee's Family Denied Last Minute Appeal To Stop Removal Of 12-Year-Old’s Life Support

The last minute appeal made by Archie Battersbee's family to stop the removal of the 12-year-old’s life support has been denied by The European Court of Human Rights.

In a statement, the European Court of Human Rights said it 'would not interfere' with the decisions of UK courts that life-support treatment should be withdrawn.

The boy has been in a coma since April after he was found unconscious and is currently being kept alive by ventilation and drug treatments, at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London.

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His parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, submitted the application to the Strasbourg-based court just a couple of hours before Barts Health NHS Trust was expected to withdraw Archie’s life support.

Previously speaking outside the hospital, she said: “I am hoping that they will step in and give Archie a right to live. I think that he deserves that.”

She said two countries have come forward to offer her son treatment, adding: “If this country can’t treat him or they’re not willing to treat him, where is the harm in allowing him to go to another country?”

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However, in a statement, the court said it would not grant an interim measure to continue treatment and declared the parents’ complaints 'inadmissible'.

The statement added the court would only grant such requests 'on an exceptional basis' and 'when the applicants would otherwise face a real risk of irreversible harm'.

Before the verdict, the mother also told reporters: “I’m not going to lie, I am broke, and at some point I am going to need serious therapy, but I haven’t got time to think about me at the minute.

“This is a serious fight for my son’s life and I’m up against the biggest system and a trust that I haven’t got time to break down at the moment.”

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Ms Dance also said she is 'running on empty', adding: "Yesterday was a very down day for me.

"People that know me know I won’t stay down for long, especially when it comes to fighting for my son’s life.

"I promised Arch, same with his dad, that we will fight ’til the bitter end, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

"We’re going to fight for the right for my son to live."

Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer for Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “Our deepest sympathies remain with Archie’s family and we aim to provide the best possible support to everyone at this difficult time.

“As directed by the courts, we will work with the family to prepare for the withdrawal of treatment, but we will make no changes to Archie’s care until the outstanding legal issues are resolved.”

Ms Dance believes that her son was taking part in an online challenge.