SUPPORTERS have paid their respects to Archie Battersbee with flowers and candles following his death earlier today.

Friends, family, and passers-by laid flowers and lit candles to pay tribute to the 12-year-old from Southend.

Archie Battersbee passed away at 12:15pm today after his life support treatment was withdrawn.

He had been in a coma since he was found unconscious at his home in Southend on April 7.

His parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, had fought a long-running legal battle over the withdrawal of treatment.

READ MORE >> Archie Battersbee’s family say he has died after his life support was withdrawn

Archie sadly died at the Royal London Hospital earlier today, and many have since left tributes.

Shelley Elias, 43, said she had come to the Royal London Hospital because “I wanted his mum Hollie and the family to know I was thinking of them”.

Mrs Elias, a mother of two from Stepney, east London, who said she vaguely knew Archie’s mother, brought flowers, a card, and some candles.

She added: “I did not know what to write because there are no words that will take the pain away.

“I just wanted the mum and her family to know that I am here for them.

“My boy is 12, the same age as Archie, and this just puts things in perspective.

“When things like this happen, you just think ‘I have nothing to moan about in life’.”

Candles flickered in the shape of the letter “A” and also formed a love heart around a card with Archie’s name in a makeshift tribute at a statue in front of the hospital.

It was created by passers-by who said they wanted to show their support.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which has been supporting the family’s case, said: “Our thoughts, prayers and support are with Archie’s family at this tragic moment.

“We will continue to support the family, as we have done throughout, ever since they came to us after being issued with last-minute legal proceedings to remove life support from Archie.

“We are thankful for the widespread public support for Archie and his family. It has been a privilege to stand alongside them.

“The events of the last few weeks raise many significant issues including questions of how death is defined, how those decisions are made and the place of the family.

“No one wants to see other families experience what they have been through. We need to see urgent review and reform of the system.”