Family to lay Archie Battersbee to rest today

Archie Battersbee will be laid to rest today, after the 12-year-old passed away following a legal battle over his life support.

Back in April, the young boy was found unconscious at his home in Southend-on-Sea and went on to spend four months in hospital on life support.

During these months, Archie's family had been fighting to keep him alive, taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights and making a last-minute plea to have the 12-year-old moved to a hospice.

However, after exhausting all possible legal routes, Archie passed away at 12.15pm on 6 August when his life support was turned off.

PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

And today (Tuesday 13 September), over a month since his death, Archie's relatives will gather to say goodbye as he is laid to rest.

Archie's funeral is set to take place at St Mary’s Church in Prittlewell, Southend, Essex at 12pm.

Archie's mum, Hollie Dance, believes her son suffered the tragic brain injury after taking part in an 'online challenge'.

Speaking about every parent's worst nightmare, Hollie said: "The last however many weeks since 7 April, I don’t think there’s been a day that hasn’t been awful really.

"It’s been really hard. Despite the hard strong face and appearance obviously in front of the cameras up until now, I’ve been pretty broken."

It's been a long battle for the young boy's family, with the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, east London, intending to end Archie's treatment at 2pm on 1 August, following previous judgements from the High Court and Court of Appeal.

PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

However, the deadline was extended as the family continued to appeal - with a campaign spokesman confirming on 4 August that they had made an application to the High Court to move Archie to a hospice.

However, that application was unsuccessful.

Archie's mother had asked for him to be given six months to recover, having argued that the decision to switch off his life support should be given to his family - and not the court.

"I don't think six months was not too much to ask for, before being dragged through a court," she said.

PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

"I don't think I'm holding on to hope, I'm just asking for a realistic time for my child to recover from a brain injury.

"They wanted to turn the machine off on day three. What is the rush?

"I just think while Archie's progressing, I think it's important that evidence is actually put before a court. That he's progressing, not deteriorating like the doctor said that he would."

Our thoughts are with all of Archie's loved ones today.