FIVE-year-old brain tumour patient Ashya King and his parents were tonight preparing to fly to the Czech Republic so he can be treated.
The family from Southsea are understood to be trying to find a private jet company to take them to Prague after being given permission this afternoon following a legal hearing conducted by telephone.
Ashya was made a ward of court at the request of Portsmouth City Council but the authority said that this would no longer be the case after the Proton Therapy Centre in Prague said it would treat him.
It is understood he will undergo chemotherapy and then proton beam therapy in a bid to beat his cancer.
His parents Brett and Naghmeh King took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital to Spain on August 28 triggering an international search.
Ashya and his mum Naghmeh
Eventually they were found in Malaga and his parents were arrested, resulting in a public outcry.
It was also announced that a review will be held into the actions of local authorities involved in the case.
The move was welcomed by Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes, who said he fully supported the decision.
Julian Wooster, Portsmouth City Council's director of children and adults' services, requested the review following consultation with council leader Donna Jones.
His parents say they have been “blown away” by the support they have received from the international community.
The situation has provoked much controversy, with a European arrest warrant for the couple only being withdrawn after public outcry.
Supporting the Portsmouth Local Safeguarding Children Board (PCSB) decision to commission an independent review into the recent events surrounding Ashya and his parents, Mr Hayes said: “I have had discussions with Reg Hooke, independent chair of the PCSB, and welcome the decision to commission an independent review of events concerning Ashya King and his parents.
Ashya with his dad Brett
“The public need to know exactly what contributed to the decisions made in the Ashya case and what actions should be taken to prevent such distress in the future.
“I will be engaging fully with the PCSB to determine the scope, detail and timings of the review.”
The independent review is expected to take six months and the findings will be made public.
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