Charlie Gard will be buried with beloved toy monkeys, his parents say as they begin to plan tot’s funeral
CHARLIE Gard will be buried with his two favourite cuddly monkeys, his parents said yesterday.
Connie Yates and Chris Gard often clutched the toys in court during their legal bid to get him treatment.
Charlie’s life support was switched off on Friday, a week before his first birthday.
His parents spent the weekend with family and will register his death today.
Connie, 31, said: “We should be planning Charlie’s first birthday but instead we’re planning his funeral.”
Family spokeswoman Alison Smith-Squire added: “They haven’t finalised any plans yet but they have decided Charlie will be buried with his beloved toy monkeys.”
It was unclear if the funeral will be public.
Brain-damaged Charlie had genetic condition mitochondrial depletion syndrome and could not move.
His parents raised £1.35million to get him experimental drugs in the US. But doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital said it was kinder to let him die with dignity as he was probably suffering.
The courts ruled against the family but the case was reopened after claims from a US expert. However, new tests convinced Connie and Chris, 33, Charlie was beyond help and they dropped the case.
The couple, from Bedfont, South West London, aim to use the donated cash to start a charity.
