Judges Are Considering Archie Battersbee's Parents' Latest Appeal Over Brain Damaged Son

Three Court of Appeal judges are considering the latest stage of a life-support treatment fight centred on the 12-year-old boy who suffered 'catastrophic' brain damage in an accident at home three months ago.

Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, of Southend, Essex, previously issued an appeal after a High Court judge ruled that doctors could lawfully stop treatment.

Ms Dance said she found Archie unconscious with a ligature over his head on April 7.

She thinks he may have been taking part in an online challenge.

The youngster has not regained consciousness since.

Doctors, who have been treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, believe that Archie is 'brain-stem dead' and that ongoing life support treatment should not be continued.

However, Archie’s parents disagree and say his heart is beating.

They are being supported by a campaign group called the Christian Legal Centre.

Lawyers representing the Royal London Hospital’s governing trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, had asked for decisions about what medical moves are in Archie’s best interests.

Another High Court judge, Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, initially considered the case and concluded, after an earlier hearing, that Archie is dead.

But Court of Appeal judges upheld a challenge by Archie’s parents against decisions taken by Mrs Justice Arbuthnot and said the evidence should be reviewed.

On Friday, Mr Justice Hayden, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, described what happened to Archie as a 'tragedy of immeasurable dimensions'.

Mr Justice Hayden said evidence shows Archie suffered a 'significant injury' to 'multiple areas' of his brain and had not 'regained awareness at any time'.

“There is unfortunately no treatment possible to reverse the damage that has been caused to Archie’s brain,” he said.

“There can be no hope at all of recovery.”

The judge previously said he reached his conclusion with 'profound regret'.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “This family have fought courageously to get to this point in taking a stand for Archie’s life.

“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they appeal this ruling.”

Ms Dance previously said: "All we have ever asked for is time. People are in comas for months but the hospital wanted to pronounce my son dead after just three days when he was still under sedation.

She added: "Don’t get me wrong, I’ve shed plenty of tears.

"But I’ve had to detach myself emotionally in order to fight for Archie. It’s the only way I can cope. Otherwise I will let him down and I cannot do that."