The 12-year-old was found unconscious with a ligature over his head at home in Essex on April 7 and his mother believes he may have taken part in a social media challenge. Doctors had declared Archie ‘brain dead’ after treating him for the last four months of his life. He died on August 6 at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, when his treatment was stopped after his family lost their legal battle with the hospital. His funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Southend and hundreds of mourners wore black with some purple at the request of his family. Archie’s coffin was carried to the church in a carriage with four black horses wearing purple hats. Church bells tolled as the coffin was carried in, with rapper Notorious BIG’s song Hypnotize playing as people crowded into the pews.
More about Archie Battersbee
During the service, a video of Archie singing One Call Away by Charlie Puth was played as the choir followed with their own rendition of the song. Archie’s mother Hollie Dance tearfully spoke to the congregation before someone shouted “we love you Hollie, we’re so proud of you” and the crowd broke into applause. Image: Archie Battersbee’s mother Hollie Dance (right) arrives at St Mary’s Church Mrs Dance said: “He was just such a beautiful little boy and he made the most of everything he did. “He lived a very full and happy life. “He was very, very energetic.” She added: “He was the best little boy ever, just perfect. “There were a few little challenges along the way, but he was just shaping up into such a perfect little man. “I love him so much.” Lewis Capaldi’s Someone You Loved was played and there was poetry, hymns, a Bible reading and a video montage of the 12-year-old. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD was played as people left the church. The funeral follows a vigil held last month for Archie, where children in attendance carried purple balloons. Before his death, Archie’s parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, failed in their attempts to overturn a High Court ruling that doctors could legally switch off his life support. Ms Dance later called for ‘Charlie’s Law’, a campaign for parents of sick children to have more support and choice in their child’s treatment. As Archie’s coffin was carried from the church and driven away in the horse-drawn hearse the bells tolled again. Mrs Dance prepares to discuss the implications of Archie’s death with a health minister.
