Charlie Gard, a British boy at the centre of a legal battle for treatment, has died according to a family spokesperson.
The 11-month-old baby suffered from an extremely rare genetic condition causing progressive brain damage and muscle weakness and his parents’ long struggle to try to save him by travelling to the US drew an international outpouring of sympathy.
“Our beautiful little boy has gone, we are so proud of you Charlie,” Connie Yates, the baby’s mother, was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
Yates and the baby’s father Chris Gard had wanted Charlie to undergo treatment that has never been tried on anyone with his condition before, against the advice of doctors at his London hospital who said it would not benefit him and would prolong his suffering.
The case ended up in court.
Charlie required a ventilator to breathe and was unable to see, hear or swallow.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes. May your memory forever be blessed, little man. https://t.co/9fmoCwf2mT— Elliott Hamilton (@ElliottRHams) July 28, 2017
RIP Charlie Gard fly high with the Angels little man pic.twitter.com/7T7M74NyHz— samantha nadin (@sammibabycakes) July 28, 2017
The case drew comment from US President Donald Trump, who tweeted on July 3 that “we would be delighted” to help Charlie, and from Pope Francis, who called for the parents to be allowed to do everything possible to treat their child.
British baby Charlie Gard has died. What a giant blessing Charlie’s life brought to our world for such a tiny, precious baby.— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) July 28, 2017
