A MUM is keeping a bedside vigil for her 12-year-old son who has spent more than a week in a coma with a brain injury following a “freak” accident at home.  

Hollie Dance, 46, from Southend, was left devastated when Archie Battersbee was left with injuries which left him comatose.

Currently at his bedside in hospital, Ms Dance is still hoping he can pull through. 

She hopes he can get back to what he loves doing, training at South Essex Gymnastics Club on Cranes farm Road Basildon, and mixed martial arts gym Elevate MMA Essex in Sutton Road, Southend.

But she admits the past seven days have been a difficult time for her and her other two children Tom and Lauren with doctors saying he is fighting for his life.

She believes her son can come through, however.

Echo: Archie was a keen gymnast and trained at his local MMA gym Archie was a keen gymnast and trained at his local MMA gym

She said: “It’s a freak accident which resulted in a brain injury and I’m just reliving it constantly.

“To be honest the doctors are saying negative stuff, he’s not responding, but we do hold hope.

“I feel he needs a bit of time.

“Obviously we don’t know the extent of the injury at the moment so its impossible to say how he’s going to be once he’s out.

She added: “The support really is what’s kept me going. Everyone’s praying for him, he’s getting voice messages from his friends and from gymnastics from MMA. It feels like the whole of Southend is with him.”

Currently at Chase High School Archie’s story has touched everyone who knew him with teachers at his former school of Earls Hall Primary School visiting his bedside to give their best

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 A fundraising page has now been set up to both support his family through this trying time and so Archie can get a new bike and equipment for his training when he pulls through.

Having originally set a target of £1,000 the target has been smashed with £1,850 collected in donations so far.

Ms Dance added: “I do go in and out of Facebook thanking people, it’s been so lovely. Archie is so well-known with his gymnastics and he seems to leave an impact wherever he goes.

“It’s been amazing. I can honestly say I haven’t felt alone the whole time it’s like everyone is with me.”  

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/just-for-archie