Doctors are ready to make the decision to switch off the life support machine currently keeping Ian Huntley alive, the Daily Star has learnt.
The child killer could have the machine switched off over the weekend as medics believe it is “highly unlikely” he will ever make a recovery. Huntley has been left with “catastrophic” brain injuries after he was smashed in the head with a metal pole in a prison workshop at HMP Frankland last week.
Reports claim he has been left blinded by the brutal assault, and doctors say there is little to no brain function being recorded. Now top medics are weighing up whether it is fair to finally switch off the machine that is keeping him alive to allow him to pass.
The Soham monster is not expected to regain consciousness after suffering massive brain injuries in the brutal prison ambush. A source said: “It is now looking like he will not pull through, barring a miracle.
“Doctors are now taking decisions and consulting over whether the best medical option is to simply turn off the machine. The brain function is understood to be minimal and it would be a full miracle if he were to wake up of his own accord.
“Some of the swelling has gone down, but it has now been a week and it is clear to see that the damage done has been catastrophic. There seems to be no way out of this one. There has been little, to no, signs of improvement since he was brought in.”
Huntley, serving life for murdering ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, has been dependent on life support machines and ventilators since the assault at the prison, dubbed “Monster Mansion”. He was given just a 5% chance of survival after being hit 15 times over the head with a metal pole by a fellow lag who reportedly boasted as other inmates watched: “I’ve done it! I’ve done it! I’ve killed him, I’ve killed him!”
Huntley’s head was said to have been “split in two” and it is understood the attack was so severe he was left virtually “unrecognisable”. Triple killer and rapist Anthony Russell, 43, is suspected of carrying out the beating in a prison workshop. Doctors are also consulting with Huntley’s family as the final decision is made, which is expected to take “hours not weeks.”
“It seems this saga will be over soon,” the insider continued. “Doctors have done an outstanding job but there is only so much that can be done in cases as bad as this. It is amazing he is still alive now because when the attack happened, everyone working in the prison thought he was already dead. We can’t believe he is still technically alive a whole week on.”
Reports state that Huntley has been left blind from the attack. One source told the Sun: “They have been doing brain stem tests and they don’t look good for Huntley. And if by some miracle he does survive, he is likely to be blind and there won’t be much of him left.
“He got hit in the eyes with the pole and has also suffered brain trauma which would affect his vision. His head injuries are so bad you would not be able to identify him in the hospital.”
The Daily Star exclusively reported how plans were being put in place in the eventuality that Huntley did survive which would have made him Britain’s most VIP prisoner. Plans included the killer being taken to a top-secret prison wing if he recovered, insiders revealed. A jail source told us a plan was being drawn up to shield him from another beating.
They said: “If he makes it out, they are going to have to put extra measures in place to keep him safe. It is generally believed that if he survives this attempt on his life, the price on his head will be higher than ever. Everyone will want to be the one that eventually finishes the job.
“Risk assessments are regularly done with high-profile prisoners, and Huntley was no different, but you can’t control what happens all of the time. The level of security will need to be higher than ever.”
It comes after his own mum told pals “part of me hopes he passes away this time” after visiting the double child killer in hospital.
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