Have You Seen Ashya King? #FindAshya

Readers, this needs to go absolutely viral. Today.

Sorry but I just don’t know how to stress this enough. A five year old disabled child’s life is in danger.

The health of a five-year-old boy snatched from hospital without consent by his parents will deteriorate rapidly as the battery on his feeding system runs out later, police said.

Ashya King was taken from Southampton General Hospital and is now believed to be in France with his family.

Police said they had “serious concerns” for his life.

The family are believed to be Jehovah’s Witnesses, but it is not clear if this has influenced the child being taken.

Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, removed him from the ward on Thursday.

Speaking at a news conference, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said “time was running out” for Ashya.

“It is vital that we find Ashya today, his health will deteriorate,” he said.

Mr Shead said Ashya was in a wheelchair and needed to be fed through a tube which is battery operated and will run out today if not charged or changed.

“If he doesn’t receive urgent medical care, or the wrong treatment is given, his condition will become life-threatening.

“If Naghemeh or Brett or any of their children see or hear this appeal please take Ashya to the nearest hospital.”

Mr Shead said they were told by the hospital the youngster was missing at 20:35 BST on Thursday – more than six hours after he had been taken by his parents.

On why it took six hours for the hospital to alert police, he said: “That is something that we need to look at.”

Officers were keeping an “open mind” on the motives behind Ashya being taken, Mr Shead said.

It is believed Ashya’s parents and six siblings boarded a cross-Channel ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg at 16:00 BST and arrived at 20:00.

Police said Ashya, who recently had surgery, cannot communicate verbally and is immobile. He is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy.

Cherbourg Police has confirmed it is searching locally for Ashya, checking hotels and CCTV.

An image of Ashya being wheeled out of the hospital by his father has been released by police.

The force said it was working with police in France to activate emergency child rescue alert procedures.

The family, from Southsea, Portsmouth, were travelling in a grey coloured Hyundai I800 Style CRDI, registration KP60 HWK.

Det Supt Dick Pearson, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “If we do not locate Ashya today there are serious concerns for his life.

“He is receiving constant medical care within the UK due to recent surgery and ongoing medical issues. Without this specialist 24 hour care, Ashya is at risk of additional health complications which place him at substantial risk.

“He needs to be taken to a medical facility for his urgent health requirements as soon as he is located.”

Clive Coleman BBC legal correspondent

Parents have the right to remove their children from hospital unless they are prevented from doing so by a court order.

If doctors are concerned that parents intend to remove a child, deny it the medical treatment it needs, and expose it to the risk of serious harm, they can seek a court order.

This will normally involve CAFCASS (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service), the non-departmental public body which provides guardians to represent the best interests of children in family court proceedings.

Once an order is in place, any parent who removes their child in breach of the order is committing a contempt of court for which they could be imprisoned.

Police have launched a social media appeal and are urging people to share it, particularly with friends or relatives in France and bordering countries.

Ashya’s brother Naveed King posted a YouTube video on 23 July speaking about the five-year-old’s illness.

He said: “I haven’t slept anything really, I’ve been awake all night worrying.

“Everyone is sending their love now. We love you so much and we want to see you very soon and I love you so much and can’t wait to see you.

“No kid at the age of five deserves to have a brain tumour.”