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The boy’s life support ended on August 6 after his parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, failed to overturn a High Court ruling that doctors could lawfully do so.

Judges were told that Hollie found the 12 year old, unconscious with a ligature over his head at home in Southend in Essex on April 7. He had suffered severe brain damage.

Hollie thinks he may have been taking part in an online challenge.

At St Mary’s Church in Southend, hundreds of mourners wore splashes of purple, in reference to Archie’s Army, a group that backed Hollie’s fight to keep him on life support.

The hearse was drawn by four black horses with purple headwear.

Church bells tolled as the silver coffin was carried inside, with Hypnotize by US rapper the Notorious BIG played over speakers as people entered.

Paul Mackay, the vicar of St Mary’s, said an “eclectic” mixture of music and prayer was planned for the service.

A video of Archie singing One Call Away by Charlie Puth was shown, before the choir performed the same song – and later the track Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi was played.

Archie’s mother stood up to talk, before someone shouted, “We love you Hollie, we’re so proud of you” and the crowd burst into applause.

A tearful Hollie told the congregation: “He was just such a beautiful little boy and just he made the most of absolutely everything that he did. He lived a very fulfilled, happy life. He was very, very energetic.

“There was a few little challenges along the way but he was just moulding into such a perfect little man.”

“I love him so much.”

The service also involved poetry, hymns and a bible reading as well as photos and footage of Archie, including a clip of the young gymnast doing somersaults. 

The family said donations to the Tafida Raqeeb Foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life of children who suffer from a neurological condition, would be welcomed.

Campaign group the Christian Legal Centre has been supporting the family after doctors at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, said Archie was brain-stem dead and that continued life support was not in his best interests. 

The family argued there was still hope and suggested he had tried to breathe.

Hollie is preparing to discuss the implications of Archie’s case with a health minister.

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