Heartbreaking final words of boy, five, as he dies from cancer in his mother's arms

A five-year-old boy with cancer died in his mother's arms after apologising for the horrific ordeal the disease brought their family.

Little Charlie Proctor was given just days to live by doctors last month after being diagnosed with a rare form of childhood liver cancer in 2016.

His parents Amber Schofield, 24, and Ben Proctor tried desperately to raise enough money to get him an organ transplant in the US - but managed less than half of the £855,580 they needed.

His smile captured the hearts of the nation on his 'Charlie's Chapter' page online, where his mother posted regular updates of how his hepatoblastoma was taking its toll.

The five-year-old died in his mother's arms on Saturday evening, after he told her: 'Mummy I'm sorry for this.'

Ms Schofield, of Accrington in Lancashire, posted a picture of her little boy with angel wings to share news of his tragic death with the thousands of people who have been following his story over the weekend - including the popstar Pink. 

Uploading a picture of him with her and his father, Ms Schofield wrote: 'Last night at 23:14 my best friend, my world, Charlie, took his final breath.

'He fell asleep peacefully cuddled in my arms with daddy's arms wrapped around us. Our hearts are aching. The world has lost an incredible little boy.

What is hepatoblastoma?
About 10 to 15 children develop hepatoblastoma in the UK each year. 

The average age at diagnosis is one year and most cases occur before two years of age. 

Hepatoblastoma is a rare liver tumour, which can spread to other parts of the body. 

Symptoms include:  

Poor appetite

Weight loss

Lethargy

Fever

Vomiting

Jaundice 

Types of treatment include chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumour and organ transplants.

Survival rates are improving but are relatively low. 

Source: Royal Marsden NHS Trust 

'Charlie, you gave me chance to be a mum. 

'You have been, not only our biggest inspiration but you have been an inspiration to thousands of people all over the world.

'You showed me what love really means Charlie. Now it's time to fly, I am so, so proud of you. 

'You fought this so hard. My baby, I'm hurting so much. I will forever miss you baby bum. Sweet dreams my baby.'

His parents' fundraising campaign even caught the attention of US popstar Pink, who shared the family's crowdfunding page with her 5.1million followers.

But the trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA for life-saving transplant would have cost more than £1million, which the family were unable to raise in the short time they had left with their son. 

Ms Schofield slammed 'cruel' NHS bosses who she said allowed 'rich families' to benefit over poor ones after Charlie was denied a liver transplant on the NHS. 

The Proctor family claimed medics told them a liver transplant 'would not be worth it', given the advanced stage of Charlie's condition.   

After his cancer spread from his liver to his lungs, the schoolboy started to look more and more frail in photos posted by his mother, which were often taken in hospital where he underwent gruelling treatment. 

Ms Schofield spoke of her devastation that his little sister Jessica would not grow up with her big brother and that she would not be able to see him grow up. 

Posting on the Charlie's Chapter page over the weekend, she said: 'This will be the last photo I post of Charlie.

'As the days go by he deteriorates more and more. He no longer looks like Charlie. 

'He's so thin, I can see and feel every bone in his tiny body, his sunken face, his rolling eyes.





MailOnline