Mother of Archie Battersbee, 12, who died in prank gone wrong reveals plans for a memorial as she reveals he wanted to be an Olympic gymnast
- Mother-of-three Hollie Dance said that Archie has ‘inspired so many already’
Archie Battersbee‘s mother has revealed that her son, who died in a prank gone wrong, wanted to be an Olympic gymnast and is now planning a memorial for him.
Mother-of-three Hollie Dance told how she wants to install parallel bars at a park where Archie used to play to honour her son and encourage others to take up the sport.
The 12-year-old boy was found dead in his Essex home with a ligature around his neck in April last year.
He became the subject of a heated legal battle after doctors declared him brain dead and eventually withdrew life support despite his parent’s efforts to overturn the ruling at the High Court.
The heartbroken Miss Dance has now shared a series of intimate photographs showing her son practicing gymnastics.
Archie Battersbee poses alongside his gymnastic medals and certificates
Archie pictured in hospital after he suffered a ligature around his neck in April last year
‘Arch wanted to be a gold medal Olympic gymnast, so having something that will allow others to be inspired and follow in his footsteps is really important,’ she told the Mirror.
‘We’re planning to have a plaque next to the gym bars so parents can talk to their children about Archie and his dream of making it to the Olympics.
‘He’s inspired so many already. Just last week I got a message from a boy who bought a toy boxer with his pocket money because it had a six-pack and reminded him of Archie.’
Miss Dance found Archie unconscious at home in Southend, Essex, on April 7, last year.
His medical cause of death was recorded as catastrophic hypoxic ischemic brain injury, secondary to strangulation.
Archie’s older half sister Lauren Summers said that the day before the incident Archie was playing, trying to pull a door closed with a cord attached to the top of his head.
In August last year Miss Dance blasted social media giants after blaming an online ‘blackout challenge’ for her son’s death claiming it has killed 82 other children.
She demanded brands like TikTok and Facebook take action on dangerous challenges like the one she says killed her son – where participants strangle themselves until they faint.
Archie pictured alongside his mother Hollie Dance, who is a mother-of-three
Archie pictured playing on gymnastic still rings
Another look at the 12-year-old boy practicing gymnastics
Miss Dance said: ‘We’re planning to have a plaque next to the gym bars so parents can talk to their children about Archie and his dream of making it to the Olympics’
A young Archie watches gymnastics on the TV while at home
Miss Dance found Archie unconscious at home in Southend, Essex, on April 7, last year
Miss Dance (centre-right) speaking outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London
She said that ‘sick people’ are ‘grooming our children to do these challenges,’ in interview with the Mirror.
‘And it’s disgusting. The people – they’re often adults, not children – who are demonstrating these challenges are sick.’
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