Doctors can lawfully stop providing life-support treatment to 12-year-old Archie Battersbee, who suffered a "catastrophic" brain damage three months ago, appeal judges have ruled.

Hollie Dance, Archie's mother, who is from Southend, has seen indications that Archie has twice tried to breathe independently in the last few days, a lawyer told a Court of Appeal hearing today.

Ms Dance and Archie's father Paul Battersbee waited for three Court of Appeal judges to rule on the latest round of a life-support treatment fight.

They wanted appeal judges to adjourn the ruling.

Read more >>> Judge set to deliver ruling today on result of the appeal by Archie's parents

However, the three Court of Appeal judges have delivered a ruling about what moves are in the best interests of Archie Battersbee.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Peter Jackson had considered arguments at a hearing at the Court of Appeal in London last week.

The appeal judges have ruled that doctors can lawfully stop providing life-support treatment to 12-year-old Archie Battersbee.

Judges were also told that Archie's father, Paul Battersbee, had been taken ill shortly before the appeal court hearing and had gone to hospital, but the judges did not allow this to delay their ruling.

Mr Justice Hayden delivered a ruling recently after reviewing evidence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

He described what had happened to Archie as a “tragedy of immeasurable dimensions”, but said medical evidence was “compelling and unanimous” and painted a “bleak” picture.

Read more >>> Archie Battersbee's life-support treatment can end, High Court judge rules

Archie’s parents, who are separated, said he made errors and want appeal judges to remit the case to another High Court judge for another hearing.

Judges have heard how Ms Dance found Archie unconscious on April 7.

She thinks he may have been taking part in an online challenge.

The youngster has not regained consciousness.

Doctors treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, think he is brain-stem dead and say continued life-support treatment is not in his best interests. His parents disagree.

Bosses at the hospital’s governing trust, Barts Health NHS Trust, had asked for decisions on what medical moves were in Archie’s best interests.

Another High Court judge, Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, initially considered the case and concluded that Archie was dead.

But Court of Appeal judges upheld a challenge by his parents against decisions taken by Mrs Justice Arbuthnot and said the evidence should be reviewed by Mr Justice Hayden.