Archie Battersbee was taken off all medication at 10am on Saturday and died at 12.15pm, his tearful mother announced outside the Royal London Hospital. Hollie Dance said her son “fought to the end and I’m so proud to be his mom.” Speaking on behalf of the family, Ella Rose Carter added: ‘They took the vent out and it turned completely blue. “There was nothing dignified in watching a family member or child suffocate.” “We hope no family has to go through what we went through,” he added. “It’s barbaric.” Archie’s death comes after weeks of legal battles, with doctors and his parents arguing over the best course of action for the youngster. The student suffered a brain injury in April during an incident at his home in Southend, Essex, which his mother believes may have been linked to an online challenge. Archie Battersbee was euthanized at the Royal London Hospital on Saturday (Hollie Dance/PA) (Average PA) Doctors argued that Archie was brain dead and continued life support treatment was not in his best interests, while his parents wanted a hospital in London to continue treatment. The High Court has given permission for medical professionals to stop treating Archie against his parents’ wishes. Doctors had been allowed to do so from 11am. last Wednesday after other cut-offs during the week had been pushed back and his parents made last-minute offers to delay treatment. Hollie Dance tells reporters Archie ‘fought to the end and I’m so proud to be his mum’ (Aaron Chown/PA) His parents appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in a final attempt to delay the withdrawal of treatment, but this too was rejected. On Thursday, the family launched a bid to have the child moved to a foster home so they could say goodbye, but that request was also denied. In an interview with Sky News, which was recorded on Friday, Archie’s mother said she was “quite heartbroken” and that the day had been “absolutely awful”. Hollie Dance with her son at the hospital (Average PA) Elaborating, he said: “In the last few weeks since April 7, I don’t think there’s been a day that hasn’t been really awful.” Mrs Dance added: “It was very difficult. Despite my tough strong face and apparently on-camera appearance so far, I’m pretty broken.” He said the hospital had made it clear there were no other options and that life support would be withdrawn at 10am on Saturday. Asked if she could do more, Ms Dance said: “No. I have done everything I promised my little boy I would do. And I have done it.” The family’s legal avenues had been exhausted by Friday (Average PA) A spokesman for the Christian Concern campaign, which is supporting Archie’s family, told the PA news agency: “All legal avenues have been exhausted. “The family are devastated and are spending precious time with Archie.” Archie suffered a brain injury in April during an incident at his home in Southend, Essex, which his mother believes may have been linked to an online challenge. The 12-year-old boy had been unconscious since the incident at home in April and was kept in intensive care at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
