Archie Battersbee, the 12 year old kept on life support in hospital for months while courts determined his fate, died from a "catastrophic" brain injury, an inquest has heard. Archie died on Saturday after a legal battle over whether his life support should be turned off.
Archie was found unconscious by his mum in April. His family had been fighting to keep him alive while doctors asked courts for permission to withdraw treatment, reports EssexLive. Speaking at the inquest opening this morning, coroner's officer Paul Donaghy said Archie was found unresponsive in his home on April 7. He said: "Paramedics attended and they reported a Glasgow Coma Scale of only 3 and confirmed a cardiac arrest. CPR continued and Archie was transported to Southend Hospital.
"Archie was thereafter transferred to the Royal London Hospital and Great Ormand Street Hospital who were both in agreement that surgical intervention would not help Archie. He was reviewed by the Paediatric Neurology team during his admission.
"Second opinions were also provided by multiple professionals from the Royal London, Queen's and Great Ormond Street Hospitals who agreed that Archie had suffered severe irreversible brain injury. The High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court were involved in applications to determine the direction of care and the best interests of Archie.
"With the authority of final court order, life-sustaining treatment was withdrawn on August 6, 2022, in a side room on the intensive care unit and Archie died surrounded by his family and friends. Death confirmed by a hospital consultant." Mr Donaghy said a provisional cause of death was identified as catastrophic hypoxic-ischemic brain injury secondary to strangulation.
Senior Coroner for Essex Lincoln Brookes set a date for the full inquest into Archie's death for February 7 next year. He told the court that an inquest would be to learn who died, and where, when, and how they came about their death, with "no one being on trial" during an inquest.
He added: "I also want to take the opportunity to say that Archie's death is a tragedy that so many people, especially his family on a personal level. I would like to extend my deepest condolences [to Archie's family] on behalf of myself and my officers."
