Toddler Alfie dead; parents ‘shattered’
LIVERPOOL: The family of British toddler Alfie Evans say they have been left ‘‘shattered’’ by his death, as more than 1000 supporters gathered to release balloons in his memory.
The terminally ill 23monthold, who was being treated at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, died on Saturday, his parents Kate James and Thomas Evans said.
Hundreds gathered in Springfield Park, next to the hospital, to release blue and purple balloons in his memory at 2.51pm, 12 hours after he was officially pronounced dead.
Evans and James, both in their early 20s, did not attend the event.
Announcing the death of Alfie, who has been at the centre of a court battle over whether to withdraw life support treatment, his mother wrote on Facebook: ‘‘Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2.30am. We are heartbroken. Thank you everyone for all your support.’’
In a post on his own Facebook page, Evans said: ‘‘My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02.30.
‘‘Absolutely heartbroken. LOVE YOU MY GUY.’’
Doctors stopped providing lifesupport treatment to Alfie early last week after his parents lost two rounds of fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.
But Evans and James, who
Iwanted Alfie to be flown to a Rome hospital, mounted a challenge on Wednesday.
When that was rejected by Court of Appeal judges they pledged to work with doctors in the hope of taking him home.
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said staff had experienced ‘‘unprecedented personal abuse’’ at the centre of a ‘‘social media storm’’.
Police were stationed at the hospital after protesters tried to storm it. — PA