Battling Brandon Kennedy has lost his fight for life.

Weeks after missing out on a potentially lifesaving swap op, the youngster died as his mum Katrina, pictured with Brandon, sat by his hospital bed.

Brandon, eight, was due to undergo a second liver transplant but was too ill to go under the knife.

A year ago, Brandon, from Washington, underwent a 13-hour operation to replace his liver and a kidney.

But his body rejected the liver and he had to go back on the transplant waiting list.

His heartbroken grandad, Joe Kennedy, said today: "Everybody is devastated.

"Katrina and my sister, Jessica, were with Brandon when he died.

"He never really recovered. He had the chest problem, his liver and kidneys failed and towards the end he had heart problems."

Classmates at Brandon's school broke down and wept when they were told the tragic news this morning.