Parents take boy, 5, with brain tumour from hospital without consent

A major police investigation has been launched to find a five-year-old boy removed from Southampton General Hospital by his parents without the consent of his doctors.

Hampshire Constabulary have said that Ashya King, 5, has a brain tumour and without treatment there are serious concerns for his welfare. He is immobile, and therefore likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy. He can not speak.

Ashya was taken from Southampton General Hospital by his parents Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, at approximately 2pm on Thursday, 28th August.

Police have said they have confirmation that Ashya, his parents and his six siblings boarded a continental ferry from Portsmouth bound for Cherbourg at 4pm. The ship arrived in France at 8pm French time. The family are travelling in a grey Hyundai I800 Style CRDI, registration KP60 HWK.

Officers believe the family are still in France. They are working with their French counterparts to activate their emergency child rescue alert procedures to find the family as soon as possible.