Mum vows to appeal court ruling brain damaged son is legally dead

A mother from the UK has vowed to fight a high court ruling that her 12-year-old brain damaged son is legally dead.

The mother of a critically ill boy has vowed she won’t give up fighting to save his life after a judge ruled he is legally dead.

Archie Battersbee was found unresponsive with a ligature around his neck at his home in Essex, UK, on April 7 this year.

The 12-year-old’s family believes he may have taken part in a dangerous online challenge.

The youngster is on life-support at the Royal London Hospital. He has not regained consciousness since the accident.

On Monday, a High Court judge ruled to end life support for the schoolboy after doctors declared he was “brain-stem dead” and will never recover from his injuries.

However, Archie’s parents want his treatment to continue, insisting their son’s heart is still beating.

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A High Court judge ruled to end life support for Archie Battersbee after doctors declared he was “brain-stem dead”. Picture: Hollie Dance/PA Wire.

Archie’s parents want his treatment to continue, insisting their son’s heart is still beating. Picture: Hollie Dance/PA Wire.

During Tuesday’s episode of GB News’ Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel, available to stream on Flash, the boy’s mother Hollie Dance described receiving the emailed judgement as a “death sentence” for her son.

“We received the judge’s decision while we were set to go to court yesterday, we received the decision via an email,” she told the program.

“They sort of told us your child’s been given a death sentence via an email – it’s very insensitive.”

Archie Battersbee's mother Hollie Dance appeared on GB News' Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel.

According to Holly, Archie might have been unconscious for three minutes before she discovered him.

She told the presenters the timeline is significant because independent medical experts expect Archie could still have a chance of recovery.

“I appreciate the judge must make a ruling based on the evidence that’s been put in front of her and we haven’t had a fair hearing,” she said.

“But we’ve been allowed no medical experts on our side apart from obviously [a doctor] from the USA [saying] that he doesn’t agree with the doctors over here [UK].

“And I think that is quite important to actually get across.”

Independent medical experts determined that Archie could still have a chance of recovery. Picture: Hollie Dance/PA Wire.

Holly said her son responds to her and friends by his bedside. Picture: Flash/GB News.

Holly told GB News her son responds to her and friends by his bedside.

“There is a very firm grip when he holds my hand. I’ve got lots of videos,” she said.

“He partly opens his eyes. His blood pressure changed when his little friend was at the hospital visiting him the other day.

“His blood pressure changed every time he went around and stroked his face and then he went back on the other side of the bed and it dropped back to where he is.”

Hollie vows to appeal the High Court decision Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire.

Holly has vowed to appeal against the High Court decision.

“It’s not just me holding onto hope, it’s not just one or two, we’ve got lots of grounds for appeal,” she said.

In a statement, the hospital’s Group Chief Medical Officer Alistair Chesser said Archie will be given the “best possible care while support is withdrawn.

“We are also ensuring that there is time for the family to decide whether they wish to appeal before any changes to care are made,” he said.

– With The Sun