Mother fights High Court battle to keep brain damaged 12-year-old son alive: Doctors say life support should be switched off four weeks after he was found with ligature around his neck at home

• 12-year-old Archie Battersbee was found unconscious with cord around his neck
• Mother Hollie Dance, 46, of Southend-on-Sea, refuses to turn off his life support
• But doctors at The Royal London Hospital say it is likely he is already brain dead
• Hospital bosses have asked the High Court to rule in Archie’s best interests

A desperate mother is battling with a hospital to keep her son’s life support switched on after he was found unconscious with a ligature around his neck four weeks ago.

Hollie Dance, 46, wants to give 12-year-old son Archie Battersbee every chance at life, but specialists treating him say it is ‘highly likely’ he is already brain dead.

Ms Dance and Archie’s dad, Paul Battersbee, insist on more time to see if Archie’s condition improves before making a decision about withdrawing his life support.

Hospital bosses have asked a judge from the Family Division of the High Court in London to assess the situation and rule in Archie’s best interests. 

Ms Dance, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said: ‘Archie had a severe brain injury only four weeks ago, there’s not been enough time to see what he can do.

‘I’ve refused the brain stem testing to declare him brain dead. It’s too soon.

‘He has squeezed my fingers with a tight grip. I think that’s his way of letting me know he’s still here and just needs more time.

 Hollie Dance, 46, wants to keep her 12-year-old son Archie Battersbee on life support but the specialists treating him say it is “highly likely” he is already brain dead

Archie (pictured) is being treated at Royal London Hospital, where bosses have asked the family division of the High Court to make a decision in his interests

‘We don’t know the extent of the damage but I would rather have some of Archie than none of Archie just to wake up every morning and kiss his beautiful little face.

‘I am fighting for as much time as possible to watch and wait.’

Archie’s brother Tom, 22 and sister Lauren, 20 come every day to visit him and try to get him to respond. His family talks to him and plays his favourite song, Lucis Dreams by Juice WRLD , along with voice notes from his friends.

‘Hope is what I am holding on to at the moment,’ said Ms Dance. ‘Where there is life there’s hope.

‘Until it’s God’s way I won’t accept he should go. I know of miracles when people have come back from being brain dead. 

‘He may not be the same as he was but if there’s a possibility he could live a happy life after this, I want to give it to him.’

Barrister Fiona Paterson, representing Barts Health NHS Trust, told the judge, Mrs Justice Morgan, that Archie’s treating team ‘consider it highly likely that he is, in fact, brain-stem dead.’

They say that any movements from Archie are reflexes.

Archie’s elder brother Tom, 22 comes every day to visit him in hospital and tries to get him to respond

Archie’s mother Hollie Dance (pictured) said: ‘I would rather have some of Archie than none of Archie just to wake up every morning and kiss his beautiful little face’

She told the court: ‘Even if Archie is not brain-stem dead, his treating team consider that it is highly unlikely that he will ever recover consciousness and consequently it is in his best interests that his mechanical ventilation be withdrawn.’

A further hearing is scheduled on May 12 to review Archie’s case. Mrs Justice Morgan described Archie’s case as ‘unbelievably tragic’ and said she hoped a resolution could be found.

Keen gymnast and MMA fighter Archie never regained consciousness after his mother found him unresponsive at their family home  on April 7.

She said: ‘We’d had the perfect afternoon, I was in my room when Archie came in with this bag and a cheeky look on his face. He was going to tease me – that’s what he’s like, always on the wind up.

‘He offered me a sweet but I could see he had our pet rabbit, Simian, in the bag.

‘I laughed with him and told him to put the rabbit back. He left my room and I sent a couple of texts.

Keen gymnast and MMA fighter Archie never regained consciousness after his mother found him unresponsive at their family home on April 7

‘A few minutes had passed and I thought he was quiet but I wasn’t worried, he’s 12 he doesn’t need me standing over him in the house all the time.’

When Ms Dance came out of her room, she saw Archie with a cord around his neck.

She said: ‘I couldn’t get it off but I could move it from his neck, so I took the pressure off his neck and ran into the street to scream for help. I got back to Archie and managed to snap the cord.

‘I was screaming and panicking. A neighbour, Joe, came and called an ambulance and took over CPR until help came.’

Archie was taken to Southend University Hospital and later transferred to the Royal London where he is still dependent on mechanical ventilation.  

His mother added: ‘At first I thought it was a freak accident and Archie was messing around with the cord and the rabbit but since it happened I wonder if Archie could have been taking part in an “online challenge.”

Archie, 12, was a keen athlete and sports enthusiast before his injury at home on April 7

Archie was rushed to Southend University hospital and later transferred to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel (pictured) where he is still dependent on mechanical ventilation

‘Someone got in touch with me to say they’d heard of boys putting ligatures over their head as part of an online challenge. It may not be but I’m not ruling it out.’ 

Since Archie’s went into hospital, his sister Lauren has started an Instagram page @spreadthepurplewave where people can follow Archie’s journey.

Celebrity fighters like David Haye and Ricky Hatton have sent videos of support via the social media page.

A gofundme for Archie has also raised over £11,000 so far in donations.

Ms Dance says the money is for any possible future treatments he may need and they are not ruling out the possibility of taking him abroad.

She added: ‘He is our champion, we are so proud of all his achievements. He’s an elite gymnast and has huge potential to be a champion MMA fighter. He loves training and we want to get him back to what he loves doing. We won’t give up on him.’

To support Archie’s family’s fundraiser, visit here.

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