Archie Battersbee Dies In Hospital After Life Support Is Turned Off

The world has again lost an amazing soul! Archie Battersbee has finally passed away after his life support was turned off. The 12-Year-Old had been at the center of a lengthy legal dispute after being severely injured in an incident at his home in Southend, Essex. 

Since April, he had been in a coma and had not regained consciousness but was kept alive with different medical interventions, including ventilation. 

Archie’s parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, had fought tirelessly for their son’s treatment to continue hoping he would recover, but sadly, their bid was rejected by the European Court of Human Rights a few days back. It followed trials at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the UK’s highest court, but they saw no need for the treatment to continue. 

“Archie was such a beautiful little boy and he fought right until the very end, and I am so proud to be his mum,” Hollie said as she stood outside the hospital.

She alleged she’s the proudest mum in the world and added: “He died at 12:15 pm.” Ella Rose Carter, the fiancé of Archie’s brother Tom, spoke on behalf of the family. She said Archie was taken off medication at 10 am, and his stats were stable until 2 hours later when the ventilation was removed. 

Ella Rose added: “There is absolutely nothing dignified about watching a family member or a child suffocate.”

“We hope no family has to go through what we have been through. It’s barbaric.” Of the relationship the young boy had with his brother Tom and sister Lauren, Hollie described them as a solid little family. She stated: “Tom started talking to Archie when he was in my belly. Their bond grew immediately. Archie and Lauren, they’re close too. A solid little family. So yeah, they’re heartbroken.” 

“My kids had to stand in court and listen to the words that their brother’s dead, I don’t know how many times. It’s just heartbreaking.” 

After speaking of Archie’s death, Ella Rose and Hollie reportedly collapsed into each other’s arms, cried, hugged, and strolled back into the hospital. When Archie was in the hospital in London, Hollie had to rely on friends and family to bring her clothes from their home in Essex. On one occasion, she had explained how she needed an outfit for a court hearing and tried to visit a store with a friend but started having flashbacks.

“The thought of even going home and just walking, opening my front door, and then seeing where I was giving Archie CPR on the floor. I don’t know how I’m going to cope with that,” Hollie had explained. 

She continued: “Walking up the stairs, and seeing obviously where I found him, I don’t know how I’m going to cope. I’d be lying if I said I did. That side of me is not going to be very strong. We’ll be back at some point fighting again, but, yeah, I will go downhill for a little while.” So far, the family’s love for the now-deceased has been described by one judge as the golden thread. 

However, Alistair Chesser, the chief medical officer At the Health trust, has said in a statement, “Members of his family were present at [Archie’s] bedside, and our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain; with them at this difficult time.“

The statement further stated: “The trust would like to thank the medical, nursing, and support staff in the pediatric intensive care department who looked after Archie following his awful accident. They provided high-quality care with extraordinary compassion over several months in often trying and distressing circumstances. This tragic case not only affected the family and his carers but touched the hearts of many across the country.”