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The parents of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard have ended their legal challenge to take him to the US for experimental treatment.
A lawyer representing Chris Gard and Connie Yates told the High Court “time had run out” for the baby.
Mr Gard said it meant his “sweet, gorgeous, innocent little boy” will not reach his first birthday on 4 August.
“To let our beautiful little Charlie go” is “the hardest thing we’ll ever have to do”, his mother said.
Charlie’s parents said they made the decision because a US doctor said it was now too late to give Charlie nucleoside therapy.
“We only wanted to give him a chance of life,” Ms Yates told the court in a statement.
“A whole lot of time has been wasted,” she added.
“We are sorry we could not save you.”
A lawyer representing Chris Gard and Connie Yates told the High Court that “time had run out” for the baby.
It means Charlie will not reach his first birthday on 4 August, his father said afterwards on the court steps.
“To let our beautiful little Charlie go”, is “the hardest thing we’ll ever have to do,” his mother said.
Charlie Gard’s medical case explained
Their lawyer Grant Armstrong said the parents’ worst fears had been confirmed because it was now too late to treat Charlie.
‘Absolute warrior’
He told judge Mr Justice Francis US neurologist Dr Michio Hirano had said he was no longer willing to offer the baby experimental therapy after he saw the results of a new MRI scan last week.
He added Mr Gard and Ms Yates, from Bedfont, west London, now hoped to establish a foundation to ensure Charlie’s voice “continues to be heard”.
In a statement outside court, Mr Gard said Charlie was an “absolute warrior” and they “could not be prouder of him.”
“Charlie has had a greater impact on and touched more people in this world in his 11 months than many people do in a lifetime.
“We could not have more love and pride for our beautiful boy.
“We are now going to spend our last precious moments with our son Charlie, who unfortunately won’t make his first birthday in just under two weeks’ time.”
Charlie’s parents had raised £1.3m in donations to take the 11-month-old abroad for treatment.
Charlie has encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. He has brain damage and cannot move his arms or legs.
Katie Gollop, the lawyer representing Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where Charlie has been treated since October, said the hearts of each person at the hospital “go out to Charlie, his mother and father”.
Mr Justice Francis paid tribute to Charlie’s parents and said no-one could comprehend their agony and no parents could have done more.
He said they were now prepared to accept Charlie should be moved to palliative care and be allowed to die with dignity.
Their lawyer said continuing the fight would cause Charlie pain.
In a statement, GOSH said “the agony, desolation and bravery” of the parents’ decision “command GOSH’s utmost respect and humble all who work there”.
Outside court, Charlie’s Army campaigners reacted angrily and chanted, “shame on you judge” and “shame on GOSH”.
Falling to the ground, one female supporter said: “He had a chance and you took it away.”
Charlie Gard: Timeline of parent’s legal battle
- 3 March 2017: Mr Justice Francis starts to analyse the case at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London
- 11 April: Mr Justice Francis says doctors can stop providing life-support treatment
- 3 May: Charlie’s parents ask Court of Appeal judges to consider the case
- 23 May: Three Court of Appeal judges analyse the case
- 25 May: Court of Appeal judges dismiss the couple’s appeal
- 8 June: Charlie’s parents lose fight in the Supreme Court
- 20 June: Judges in the European Court of Human Rights start to analyse the case after lawyers representing Charlie’s parents make written submissions
- 27 June: Judges in the European Court of Human Rights refuse to intervene
- 3 July: The Pope and US President Donald Trump offer to intervene
- 7 July: Great Ormond Street Hospital applies for a fresh hearing at the High Court
- 24 July: Charlie’s parents end their legal fight to take him to the US for treatment
