Archie Battersbee was found by his mother unconscious in his room (Picture: PA)

There was ‘no evidence’ Archie Battersbee took part in an online blackout challenge when he fatally injured himself, a coroner said.

Archie, 12, died after his life support was switched off in August following a wrenching legal battle between his parents and his doctors.

He had been in a deep coma since April when his mother, Hollie Dance, found him unconscious at their Southend home with something tied around his neck.

Ms Dance had long believed that her son might have taken place in an online challenge.

But Essex’s senior coroner Lincoln Brookes at a pre-inquest review today said there was ‘no evidence at this stage to substantiate this concern’.

Ms Dance had phoned Essex Police as she was ‘concerned there was an online challenge going round and other young people could be at risk’, the court heard.

Hollie Dance had long said her son died after taking part in a blackout challenge (Picture: PA)

Detective Inspector Sarah Weeks of Essex Police said the force downloaded information from Archie’s mobile phone on June 13.

There was no evidence that he was filming any videos on the day he was injured, nor any photographs of videos suggesting he was taking part in a challenge.

Officers found YouTube and search engine results about ‘MMA fighters, boxing or music videos’, things Archie loved.

‘Most of his internet searches are in relation to his interests,’ she said, including: ‘How much do MMA fighters get paid.’

Archie’s phone has since been submitted for a ‘full forensic download’, Ms Weeks added.

The coroner said: ‘It’s low mood we’re looking at here, very low mood.’

The youngster passed away after a lengthy and high-profile legal battle (Picture: PA)

Mr Brookes added: ‘There’s no evidence at this stage to substantiate the concern, the fear of Ms Dance, about the choking challenge or the blackout challenge, whether on TikTok or frankly on any other platform or provider.’

Ms Dance had concerns from the get-go about her son. He was first taken to Southen Hospital rather than straight to Royal London Hospital, the hearing was told.

But Mr Brookes said her lawyer ‘makes it clear this is a mother’s fears rather than anything that has an evidential basis behind it’.

The full inquest on February 7 will examine Archie’s medical cause of death and his ‘state of mind and his intentions on April 7’.

In a legal case over who, if anyone, can make life-and-death decisions for an ill child, judges sided with doctors in finding Archie had no hope of recovery.

When parents or guardians and doctors disagree about what is in the best interest of a child’s health, it’s up to the courts to decide.

More: News

In a series of decisions, judges found Archie suffered severe brain damage and agreed with doctors that continued life-support was not in his best interests.

Archie’s family repeatedly appealed the rulings, saying his condition was better than that described to the court by doctors.

‘Can I just say I’m the proudest mum in the world,’ Ms Dance told reporters following her son’s death.

‘Such a beautiful little boy, and he fought right until the very end.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

His mum was ‘concerned there was an online challenge going round and other young people could be at risk’.