When did Archie Battersbee get brain damage?

Archie Battersbee, a 12-year-old boy, was hospitalised after his mother discovered him unconscious at home on April 7, 2022.

Hollie Dance, Archie’s mother, believes he suffered brain damage as a result of participating in a viral social media challenge. The blackout challenge causes a lack of oxygen to the brain, which can be fatal.

Dr Nick Flynn explained the effects of the blackout challenge to the Irish Examiner. “What is actually happening in the brain is a lack of oxygen, similar to when someone is drowning, choking, or having a cardiac arrest,” he explained.

If you have low oxygen to the brain for more than three minutes, you can get brain damage, and if you have low oxygen to the brain for more than five minutes, you can die.”

Archie never regained consciousness after his mother discovered him at home. Doctors decided to remove Archie’s support after nearly four months in a coma, though his parents fought for more time.

Archie’s life support was withdrawn earlier on Saturday, August 6 2022. He died at 12.15 BST.