'Our beautiful little boy has gone': baby Charlie Gard dies
Charlie Gard has died just days ahead of his first birthday from a rare genetic condition, following a legal battle fought by his parents that attracted worldwide attention.
A UK court had ordered the 11-month-old to be moved to a hospice from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where his life support would be withdrawn.
Charlie's parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates had fought a lengthy legal challenge to take their severely ill baby son to the US for treatment.
In a statement issued today, Ms Yates said: "Our beautiful little boy has gone, we are so proud of you Charlie."
A day earlier she had claimed the couple were "denied" their "final wish" when a British High Court judge approved a plan to see Charlie moved to a hospice and have his life support withdrawn soon after.
His parents had pleaded to be allowed more time with him, after their earlier request to take him home to die also failed.
Announcing the end of their five-month legal challenge on Monday, Mr Gard gave an emotional speech on the steps of the High Court when he said: "We are so sorry that we couldn't save you."
Charlie, who was born on August 4 last year, has a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.
Described as "perfectly healthy" when he was born, Charlie was admitted to hospital at eight weeks and his condition has progressively deteriorated.
The couple said they wanted to take their son across the Atlantic for nucleoside bypass therapy, but specialists at GOSH in London, where Charlie was being cared for, said the treatment was experimental and would not help.
The plight of the baby boy saw hundreds of supporters - called Charlie's Army - lending their voices and money for him to be given treatment, with £1.35m raised on an online fundraising site.
