Archie Battersbee vigil attracts hundreds of people as his mother vows ‘things have got to change’ | UK News

Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Archie Battersbee, the 12-year-old boy who was removed from life support after a protracted court battle.

A crowd gathered with affectionate signs at the band counter in Priory Park in Southend, Essex, Archie’s hometown, on Sunday.

The cards and purple balloons – many of which were later released into the sky – had messages on them and were hung from pine trees.

The messages include “a mother’s love”, featuring a photo of Archie and his mother is Hollie Dance.

Children attended and played with balloons, and one attendee lit a purple flame as a sign of respect.

Ms Dance spoke to the crowd to thank them.

“Thank you so much for supporting us when we were in such a bad place,” she said.

“I hope all of you are on my side to try change this lawArchie’s army, so that no more our children and their parents have to go through this. “

Read more:
A mother’s fight for her son – Archie Battersbee’s case

Archie’s mother had spoken to journalists the evening before, describing the past few months as “really difficult”.

“It’s been a fight for my young son’s life. If I had to go back and do it again, I’d fight hard too,” she said.

“I’m going to continue this fight. I have no intention of giving up, Archie won’t want me to give up, he definitely wants me to keep going.

“Everything has to change.”

Archie died on 6 August at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, after a lengthy legal battle.

The boy has been in a coma since April 7, when his mother found him unconscious at their home.

Doctors treating him said he was “brain dead” and kept alive only by medical interventions, including ventilation and drug treatment.

His family fought to continue his life support treatment in the hope that Archie would recover.