Archie Battersbee's family making urgent application to ECHR

Archie Battersbee has never regained consciousness since his accident in April. (Photo: GoFundMe)

The family of Archie Battersbee are making an urgent application to the European Court of Human Rights to stop his life support from being removed.

They were given until 9am this morning to submit the application after the Supreme Court yesterday refused an appeal. 

Barts Health NHS Trust has told the family that Archie's life support will be withdrawn at 11am if the application is not submitted in time. 

The family and their lawyers have expressed frustration at the tight deadline and the Trust's refusal to allow Archie to be moved to a hospice. 

"This is cruel and we are absolutely appalled," said Archie's mother, Hollie Dance. 

Following an application by the family, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) asked for a temporary stay on the withdrawal of Archie's life support while it considers his case.

The government said in its submissions to the Supreme Court that interventions by the UN CRPD are "not binding" under international law. 

Archie, 12, was found unconscious in his home in Southend, Essex, with a ligature around his neck. His mother thinks he may have been taking part in an online challenge.

He has never regained consciousness but Ms Dance maintains that she has seen improvements in her son and that he should be given more time to recover. 

His family are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, who are asking for prayers. 

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Royal College of Nursing criticised for display of trans flag
Royal College of Nursing criticised for display of trans flag

Typically a flag denotes the ownership of a tribe or group over an area.

Christians call for ceasefire amid DRC's Ebola crisis
Christians call for ceasefire amid DRC's Ebola crisis

So far 131 people have been killed by the outbreak.

Without a culture shift, Christian street preachers will continue to be arrested
Without a culture shift, Christian street preachers will continue to be arrested

Christian street preachers are almost invariably arrested under a section of law that was originally intended to deal with football hooliganism.

Thoughts on Ruth
Thoughts on Ruth

Jewish academic and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster reflects on poor judges and famine through the lens of the book of Ruth.