A mum whose 12-year-old son was left clinging to life after taking part in a viral online game has issued a last-ditch plea to save his life.
Archie Battersbee ’s family fear the schoolboy took part in the “blackout challenge” when they discovered him with a ligature over his head.
He has spent eight weeks in an induced coma, with doctors saying it is “highly likely” that talented gymnast Archie is brain dead.
But while they argue that life support treatment should end, his mum, Hollie Dance, 46, and father, Paul Battersbee, 56, refuse to give up hope.
Now they are locked in a fierce High Court battle with a judge set to decide the youngster’s fate within days.
And Hollie tonight begged for a reprieve and sent a direct message to the judge, pleading: “Please, please find it in your heart to give my son the time to heal. I refuse to give up, this is my little boy.”
Archie was left in a coma after his mum found him unconscious at his home in Southend, Essex on April 7.
Lawyers representing the Royal London Hospital have asked Mrs Justice Arbuthnot to decide what moves are in Archie’s best interests.
They say the youngster is “brain-stem dead” and life-support treatment should end.
But the High Court heard this week that Archie’s family are “praying for a miracle”, his heart is still beating and his treatment should continue.
In an exclusive interview ahead of the judgement on Monday, mum-of-three Hollie said: “It’s devastating. Total strangers are making a decision about whether my son lives or dies.
“It’s so hard as a mother. For 12 years I’ve raised him but now we’ve gone into a hospital you lose your right. It’s awful.”
She added: “I’m devastated, the hospital has had Covid patients in a coma on ventilators for three months, it’s longer than Archie has been in hospital.
“This is my child. I’ve had to become a nurse overnight so I can understand what’s happening to Archie.
“Archie should be treated as a living patient until it can be proven that he’s not.
Hollie, who has two other children, Tom 22, and Lauren , 20, also issued a warning to other parents about the “blackout” social media craze.
The online trend challenges people to choke themselves until they pass out due to lack of oxygen.
Archie’s family believe there have been at least 82 deaths linked to the online trend with hundreds more left brain damaged since it first began 14 years ago.
She said: “It’s possible that Archie was taking part in an online challenge. Kids will do what kids will do.
“It’s important that parents are aware about these things so they can have a conversation with their children.
“They need to explain what might happen, and maybe use Archie as an example, then maybe the child would take notice and not try it.”
Hollie said they were planning a trip to the cinema when she discovered Archie with a noose around his head on the landing outside his bedroom.
Hollie said: “I went to check where he was and I called for him and he didn’t answer. Then I realised that he was hanging from the bannister with something round his neck.”
Frantic Hollie snapped the dressing gown belt before he plunged eight feet to the floor below.
She desperately ran into the street outside screaming for help before returning to carry out CPR.
Hollie said: “My neighbour called the ambulance while I tried to resuscitate him. I was just hysterical.”
Archie was taken to nearby Southend University Hospital where he “was making attempts to breath on his own and his pupils were reactive”, his family claim.
Within days he had been transferred to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, where medics told Hollie that “Archie would not make it through the night”.
But he has staged an astonishing eight-week fight for survival.
Archie’s family believe the youngster could yet make a full recovery and are inspired by stories like Lewis Roberts, 19, who was struck by a van in Leek, Staffs, in March 2021.
At one point the family was told he had suffered a brain-stem death but hours before surgery to donate his organs, he began to breathe on his own.
Hollie said: “Lewis is out of hospital and is playing basketball. We want Archie to be given the same chance.”
This week Archie’s story reduced This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby to tears when Hollie appeared to relive the tragic case.
And sports stars from around the world have sent messages of support to help shake him from his coma.
Six-time Olympic medalist Max Whitlock, 29, urged the youngster to keep fighting and invited him to join him in the gym when he recovers.
In a recorded message he said: “Archie I’ve seen your videos andI can tell you’re a pretty tough kid.
“You’ve got everybody around you right now, everybody is supporting you.
And I want to make you a deal, I want to see you back in the gym.
“Come and see me in the gym, I’ll bring my medal in, we can take some pictures, you can wear it, we can do whatever you want.
“I hope to see you back in the gym, hope you get better, Archie.”
Meanwhile Archie’s school friends have sent voice messages which his family play to him in the hope they will bring him back to life.
Hollie said: “His friends all sent voice messages so we could play them for him. His two best friends have been to the hospital and held Archie’s hand, talking to him.
“We’ve also had messages from professional boxers like David Haye and Ricky Hatton. The support has been amazing.”
However Hollie hasn’t found the strength to return home since the tragic accident.
She said: “I’ve been in hospital with Archie for eight weeks, but I can’t bear to go back.”
Speaking about Archie, she said: “Archie is a very, very talented gymnast, he’s a very talented MMA fighter.
“He’s very high-spirited and he’s very sensitive. He’s very caring, he loves his rabbit and animals. He’s just really happy.”
