Cancer survivor Ashya King returns to school

Back to school: Ashya King in hospital with his mother Naghemeh
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Ramzy Alwakeel4 January 2016

The father of brain cancer survivor Ashya King has said he is "proud" as his son returns to school full time.

Brett King said the youngster was "doing very well" after recovering from proton beam therapy to treat his rare condition.

Mr King, and his wife Naghmeh, sparked an international manhunt after they took Ashya, then aged five, from Southampton General Hospital without doctors' consent in August 2014.

The couple were arrested a few days later in Spain, where they were forced to spend several nights in prison away from their son before being released.

A High Court judge later approved the move to take Ashya to Prague for proton therapy.

A report by Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Board found their actions had "put him at risk" but Mr King again defended his decision on Good Morning Britain.

He also said that while his son still faced a few problems, he was delighted the child would be back in full-time education.

He told the programme: "He is doing very well. We are so proud of him.

"There are still a few issues - he is wobbly on his legs and his speech is a bit strained but he is a fighter, he does not give up and he is prepared to try anything."

He added the couple found it difficult "just a short time ago, to think he might be going to school for the majority of the day".

And he said: "We expect him to make a full recovery to the boy we had before."

The proton therapy was not offered to Ashya on the NHS, although the health service later agreed to fund his treatment. Several new proton beam therapy centres will open in the UK from this year.

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