Archie died 'from a prank gone wrong

Coroner says death was accidental

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

TRAGIC Archie Battersbee died in "a prank or experiment that went wrong", a coroner has said as he concluded that the schoolboy's death was accidental.

Despite evidence the 12-year-old had experienced low mood in his last year there was no sign he intended to harm himself on the day he was injured, said senior coroner Lincoln Brookes.

Archie was found unconscious with a ligature around his neck at his home in Southend, Essex, on April 7 last year.

He died four months later in hospital after his parents lost a legal battle over the withdrawal of his life support.

His family initially feared he could have taken part in a social media "blackout challenge", but the inquest heard police found no evidence to support this. Officers discovered Archie was in WhatsApp groups called "Help" and "I'm depressed", the court was told.