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Coroner begins his conclusion
Coroner Brookes has returned and is now summing up the case and his conclusions.
Archie had expressed he was low but like many children went through high and low periods
The coroner has said that it was clear Archie was “full of energy” and energetic. He said: “He was very physical, he was at times very bored. He liked to shock those around him, perhaps even more so those he cared about.”
The coroner said that it was evident Archie had expressed to his mother that he was “very low” and “questioned if it was all worth it” - but said that it was “like many 12-year-olds” who go through “lows and highs”.
He added that he must focus on Archie’s mental state on the day of his discovery and be cautious about giving too much weight to previous expressions of low mood.
Archie's parents were put in a situation 'no parents ever want to be in'
The coroner is summarising the events of April 7 when Archie was discovered unresponsive.
He said he was satisfied that the paramedics arrived in a timely manner, but that Archie had already suffered the severe hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury and was in cardiac arrest.
Coroner Brookes said he was satisfied that taking Archie to Southend Hospital was the right decision as the care in the first few hours of arriving at the Royal London Hospital “would have been the same as it was in Southend”.
He added that the following days and months Archie’s parents were put in a situation “no parents ever want to be in”.
Archie died due to an accident and 'didn't intend to take his own life'
The coroner has stated he does not believe Archie intended to take his own life on April 7.
He said the “happy go lucky” and “cheeky chappy” that his mother Hollie Dance portrayed him as “was the Archie presented on April 7”.
The coroner said: “He had plans later that day and big plans for his first MMA fight and it was a very big deal for him and he was looking forward to and training for. Am I satisfied on the balance of probabilities that he intended [to take is own life] - the answer is no.”
“It’s my view that this was an accident”.
He stated the time it took for his mother to find him led to the brain injury being caused.
No evidence Archie was taking part in an 'online challenge'
The coroner has said that while the notion that Archie was taking part in an online challenge was “not impossible” there was no evidence to suggest it was the case, and that there are “hundreds of other possibilities” which also have no evidence to substantiate them.
Archie 'had not intended to harm himself but had done so inadvertently' coroner concludes
In his record of inquest, Coroner Brookes stated that Archie Battersbee died on August 6, 2022 following an incident at his home address on April 7.
He said: “He had not intended to harm himself but had done so inadvertently during a prank or experiment that went wrong.”
He recorded a short-form final conclusion of “accident” as the cause of death.
Coroner sends condolences to family
The coroner told Archie's parents that his death would "clearly leave a huge hole" in people's lives. He said: "You have given me an insight into this young man, what he had achieved and what he looked like he would achieve. You are quite right to be proud of this young man."
Archie's family to give statement outside the courtroom
Archie's family have said they will give a statement on the inquest's findings outside the courtroom.
Live broadcast on
https://www.facebook.com/essexlivenews
Should be able to grab an archivable copy later from
https://www.essexlive.news/
They're so sensitive to kids killing themselves that, without a suicide note or other compelling evidence such as a witness, the coroner was never going to rule it as a suicide
