The parents of Charlie Gard say their desperately sick child “deserves a chance”, while speaking outside Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Connie Yates and Chris Gard said new treatment had a 10% chance of working and that it was their right as parents to give him a “chance for life”.

The couple, from Bedfont , said there was “nothing to lose” while speaking outside the hospital which is treating their 11-month baby on Sunday (July 9) lunchtime.

Charlie Gard in April

They were at the speaking at a small demonstration and vigil which saw a petition with more than 350,000 signatures handed over calling for the child to be allowed to travel to America for experimental treatment.

The parents had previously lost a lengthy legal battle with medical experts, who argued the treatment would by ineffective, and that Charlie should instead be placed on palliative care.

But in the past week the mum and dad have received support from the Pope and Donald Trump, while on Friday (July 7) GOSH said it had applied to the High Court for a fresh hearing “in light of claims of new evidence relating to potential treatment for his condition”.

Parents of Charlie Gard, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, speak to the media in Queen Square, London

Speaking at a small vigil close to the London hospital, shortly after 2pm, Charlie’s parents thanked people for their support.

Mr Gard praised the work of GOSH but said it was unable to provide help for Charlie.

“The specialists are in America where we want to go,” he said.

Ms Yates continued: “There are now seven doctors supporting us from all over the world, from Italy, from America, from England as well, that think that this has a chance.

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“Its got up to 10% chance of working for Charlie and we feel that that’s a chance worth taking.

“We’ve been fighting for this medication since November we’re now in July.

“He’s our son, he’s our flesh and blood, we feel that it should be our right as parents to decide to give him a chance for life.

“For a medication that’s just oral medicine, no known major side effects, there’s nothing to lose.

“He’s still fighting and we’re still fighting.”

Mr Gard added: “He should have had this chance a long time ago. He deserves his chance at last and hopefully we’ll get it.

“Lets get Charlie the treatment he needs.”

Parents of Charlie Gard, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, in Queen Square, London, ahead of delivering a petition with more than 350,000 signatures to Great Ormond Street Hospital

The GOSH decision to return to the courts was prompted by claims of “new information” from researchers at the Vatican’s children’s hospital.

Charlie inherited the faulty RRM2B gene from his parents, affecting the cells responsible for energy production and respiration and leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator.

Ms Yates has said her son was “not in pain or suffering” and she had been given hope by international attempts to come to Charlie’s aid, including from The Vatican and White House.

GOSH said it will now be for the High Court to make its judgment on the facts and it is acting in Charlie’s best interests.

Pope Francis has offered support to Charlie Gard

The hospital describe his condition as exceptionally rare, with catastrophic and irreversible brain damage.

Previous legal attempts by Charlie’s parents failed as judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in London ruled in favour of GOSH doctors, while the European Court of Human Rights declined to hear the couple’s appeal.

Charlie’s case will be heard by Mr Justice Francis on Monday at 2pm, according to a High Court listing.

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