Seriously ill boy removed from UK hospital found in Spain

A seriously ill boy whose parents removed him from a UK hospital against medical advice has been found in Spain after an international search.

Five-year-old Ashya King suffers from a brain tumor. His parents wanted him to receive proton beam therapy in the Czech Republic, a treatment not offered by Britain’s health service.

Brett King, Ashya’s father, released a video on his son’s YouTube channel pleading for the “ridiculous chase” to be called off.

“We are not neglecting our son, he’s in perfectly good health.”

“My son’s smiling, he’s happy,” he continued, “we are doing things as a family with him. We just want to be left in peace. He’s very sick. I just want to get on with his treatment.”

British regional police feared the child’s life may have been at risk and launched an international appeal to find the boy.

Ashya was spotted by hotel staff when the family stopped off on the way to the Czech Republic for the specialist treatment.

“I saw the news and the reason why there were looking for the room, the urgency due to the health of the child,” explained the hotel’s receptionist.

“So as soon I saw them I called my boss and we got in touch with the police. They arrived in a few minutes and they called an ambulance,” she added

The boy was transferred to a high dependency unit at a Malaga hospital, however he was separated from his parents, something they wanted to avoid.

They have been arrested.