A couple from Bedfont urged judges at the Court of Appeal not to take away "only remaining hope" in a fight to save their baby boy.

Father Chris Gard, and mother Connie Yates, both in their 30s, want permission take their baby son Charlie abroad to the US for a therapy trial treatment called nucleoside.

The nine-month-old suffers from a rare genetic condition, mitochondrial disease, and has brain damage.

Charlie Gard

His parents want the chance to exhaust all avenues so they never have to look back and utter the words "what if?", and believe their parental rights should not be taken away from them.

Lord Justice McFarlane, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Sales are analysing evidence at a Court of Appeal hearing in London, on Tuesday (May 23).

Barrister Richard Gordon QC, who led their legal team, told appeal judges that the case raised "very serious legal issues".

"They wish to exhaust all possible options," Mr Gordon said in a written case outline.

"They don't want to look back and think 'what if?'.

"This court should not stand in the way of their only remaining hope."

The couple want their son to have treatment in the US

Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Charlie is being cared for, are against the treatment in the US.

On April 11, a High Court judge ruled in favour of Great Ormond Street doctors' right to withdraw life support treatment and move to a palliative care regime.

Charlie's parents want appeal judges to overturn Mr Justice Francis's decision following a hearing at the Family Division of the High Court.

Mr Justice Francis said experts agreed the treatment could not reverse Charlie's structural brain damage.

Mr Gard, with Charlie's cuddly toy monkey in his pocket, and Miss Yates were both at the appeal hearing.

Their lawyers say Mr Justice Francis did not give enough weight to Charlie's human right to life and the proposed treatment would not cause "significant harm".

Chris Gard and Connie Yates, the parents of eight-month-old Charlie Gard, arrive at The Royal Courts of Justice

Mr Gordon suggested Charlie could be being unlawfully detained and denied his right to liberty.

He added judges should not interfere with parents' exercise of parental rights.

The couple launched an appeal on GoFundMe to cover the costs of doctors' bills and treatment in America.

Donations keep on coming in despite the High Court decision and topped £1.3million, with one anonymous donor giving £27,000.

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