Archie Battersbee, little boy nation loved, is no more

British boy Archie Battersbee has died. He was 12. This came hours after his life support was removed. Battersbee's mother informed the media that Archie had passed away and that he fought till the very end, and she was the proudest mother in the world.

The 12-year-old was taken to a hospital in Southend, Essex, in April, after being found unconscious in his home. The little boy had major brain injuries and needed life support, including mechanical ventilation and medicinal treatment.

Hollie Dance, Archie's mother, and his father, Paul Battersbee, had requested the European Court of Human Rights for intervention and wanted life support to be continued.


The European court had understood their case but said it was beyond their scope to have their request implemented. Hollie was, however, informed by the hospital authorities that there were no other methods left for her son to continue living.

The couple then requested that Archie be transferred to a hospice, but transporting him by ambulance was disallowed.

The High Court ruled against transporting Archie from the hospital to a hospice, so Archie remained at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, East London, till the very end. The family appealed against this decision by the court, but the three justices at The Court of Appeal upheld the earlier order.

After Archie's death, the Barts Health NHS Trust informed the press that they would like to thank the hospital and the caregivers for their undying support. This case affected not only the family but the entire nation. Andrea Williams of Christian Legal Centre believed their prayers were with the Battersbee family at this tragic time.

People paid their condolences by placing candles and flowers in front of a piece of paper with a handwritten "Archie" in a heart shape outside the Royal London Hospital.