UPDATE: Boy with brain tumour taken from hospital

UPDATE – A tweet from Hampshire Police, Saturday morning said: “#FindAshya King’s family could be in Spain. Please RT to get the message to friends/family who live and visit there.” The police force also claim that the family have “strong links” to the Marbella area and that the battery in Ashya`s feeding system could have run out already, putting the young boy at greater risk.

A major search has been launched to find a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour after he was taken by his parents from Southampton hospital without the doctors’ consent. CCTV footage showed his parents Brett King, 51 and Naghemeh King, 45 wheeling Ashya out of the hospital around 2pm and are currently suspected to be in somewhere in France.

It is believed that Ashya, along with his six siblings are travelling in their parents’ grey coloured Hyundai 1800 CRDI, reg number KP60 HWK after catching the Portsmouth to Cherbourg ferry last night. Ashya needs constant medical care and there are serious concerns for his life if he does not receive urgent medical attention within the next 24hrs. He is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, he cannot communicate verbally and is immobile.

Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson, of the Hampshire Major Investigation Team, said: “He needs to be taken to a medical facility for his urgent health requirements as soon as he is located.

Anyone with information about Ashya’s whereabouts should contact Hampshire Constabulary, quoting Operation Aquilion.