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Archie Battersbee saved pocket money to buy cross necklace and Christian ring before accident

by Sophie Drew
Archie Battersbee cropped.png - Banner image
Hollie Dance/ Alamy

Archie Battersbee saved his pocket money in order to buy a St Christopher's ring and a cross necklace before his accident. 

The 12-year-old, who is currently at the centre of a lengthy human rights battle, had long expressed his Christian faith, largely inspired by the boxers he watched on television. 

In the years before his accident, he wanted to be Christened; his dream came to fruition on Easter Sunday 2022, whilst attached to his life support machine. 

The elite gymnast was found unconscious in his Southend home in April.

Two High Court judges have ruled him brain-stem dead, stating the Royal London Hospital can legally stop treatment. 

At the end of the first High Court trial, Justice Arbuthnot ruled that Archie's belief in God was outweighed by evidence to suggest continued treatment was not in his best interest.

She said: "In all the circumstances, on balance, I find that the burdens of the treatment and his condition along with the total lack of a prospect of recovery outweigh Archie's Christian beliefs and the benefits to him of a continuing life on mechanical ventilation for a few more weeks or months with all the other procedures that it entails."

Archie's mother, Hollie Dance, believes he was taking part in an online challenge that went horribly wrong. 

The family are adamant that only God can take Archie's life, and does not believe that a "planned death" is the "dignified approach." 

They have taken the case to the court of appeal twice, before seeking help from the United Nations and the European Court of Human Rights. 

All attempts to maintain Archie's life support have been unsuccessful. 

 
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