The parents of Archie Battersbee will appeal the High Court decision to end life support for their 12-year-old son, contradicting claims which deem him "brain-stem dead".
A judge at the Family Division of the High Court ruled in favour of doctors treating the child at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, ruling the life support treatment should end, and he should be removed from a ventilator.
Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, Archie's parents, want the treatment to continue, arguing their son's heart is still beating and he has gripped his mother's hand in recent days.
In an exclusive interview with GB News presenters Isabel Webster and Eamonn Holmes, Archie's mother Ms Dance, emphasised her desire to appeal the judges decision.
When probed by Eamonn on their next steps regarding the judges ruling, Ms Dance added: "We've got very very good grounds for appeal"
Archie Battersbee has remained in an induced coma for eight weeks since his accident in April
Hollie Dance
Archie Battersbee's mother Hollie Dance appeared on GB News this morning in an exclusive interview
GB NEWS
In a statement outside of court, The Royal London Hospital's Group Chief Medical Officer, Alistair Chesser said Archie will be provided with the "best possible care" as his life support is withdrawn.
"We are also ensuring there is time for the family whether they wish to appeal before any changes to care are made," he added.
Th 12-year-old was found with a ligature around his neck in April after reportedly partaking in a viral online game called the "blackout challenge".
Hollie Dance addressed crowds gathered outside court
Yui Mok
He has remained unconscious since the incident and has spent eight weeks in an induced coma.
Ms Dance addressed crowds outside court, highlighting her disappointment in the outcome of the decision, alongside plans to appeal the decision.
She said: “I am devastated and extremely disappointed by the judge’s ruling after weeks of fighting a legal battle when I wanted to be at my little boy’s bedside,” said Ms Dance in a statement after the ruling.
“This case raises the significant moral, legal and medical questions as to when a person is dead. What does this ruling today tell us about where our society is at? We intend to appeal and will not give up on Archie.”
Mrs Justice Arbuthnot concluded the 12-year-old had died “at noon on 31st May 2022”, shortly after the most recent MRI scans had been taken.
In a written ruling the judge said: “I find that irreversible cessation of brain stem function has been conclusively established".
Speaking to Isabel and Eamonn, Ms Dance, reiterated the support she has received from doctors across the world, adding: "It's not just me holding onto hope, it's not just one or two, we've got lots of grounds for appeal".
Mrs Justice Arbuthnot commending the devotion of Archie's family was "extraordinary".
"If Archie remains on mechanical ventilation, the likely outcome for him is sudden death and the prospects of recovery are nil," she said.
"He has no pleasure in life and his brain damage is irrecoverable.
"His position is not going to improve.
"The downside of such a hurried death is the inability of his loving and beloved family to say goodbye."
The judge said that, had she not concluded Archie was dead, she would have ruled that it was not in his best interests to continue to receive life-support treatment.
"The steps I have set out above are lawful," she added.
