Died, aged 23 months, 2.30am, April 28 SLEEP TIGHT LITTLE GUY
TODDLER Alfie Evans died yesterday with his “heartbroken” parents by his side.
During his final hours Alfie’s mum Kate lay on his hospital bed beside him as police stood guard outside.
The youngster had a serious degenerative disease from birth and had been in a coma for more than a year.
His dad Tom, 21, confirmed that his 23-month-old son had died yesterday morning at 2.30am.
In a Facebook post he said: “My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 2.30, absolutely heartbroken.”
Earlier, Alfie’s mum Kate, 20, wrote: “Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2:30 am. We are heartbroken. Thank you everyone for all your support.”
Alfie’s parents had fought a bitter legal battle against Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to allow their son to be treated abroad.
Their crusade touched people around the world and sparked mass protests outside the hospital.
Yesterday Pope Francis, who had spoken out about Alfie’s plight, tweeted: “I am deeply moved by the death of little Alfie.
“Today I pray especially for his parents, as God the Father receives him in his tender embrace.”
Yesterday supporters could be seen sobbing and leaving tributes outside Alder Hey.
At 2.30pm, exactly 12 hours after Alfie’s death, hundreds of people gathered in a park next to the hospital, and released more than 1,000 blue balloons.
Alfie’s parents were not present, but Tom’s sister Sarah said: “I just want to thank you all for coming today.
“Our gorgeous little warrior took his last breath at 2.30 this morning.
“Our hearts are broken. We are absolutely shattered as a family.
“Thomas just wants to thank you all for the support you’ve all shown. There’s only one Alfie Evans.”
One card left on flowers outside the hospital read: “We fell in love with a little boy we never knew. Alfie will be forever engraved in our heart. Fly high little man.”
The family’s supporters, known as Alfie’s Army, had been warned by police to stop making threatening comments to medical staff.
Police stood guard outside entrance of the hospital.
In a statement Merseyside Police said: “We’d like to pass on our sincere
MARCH 6: Appeal Court judges uphold decision of Mr Justice Hayden. MARCH 20: Supreme Court justices decide the case is not worth arguing and refuse to allow the couple to appeal. MARCH 28: European Court of Human Rights the thoughts and condolences to Tom, Kate and their families for their sad loss following the death of their son Alfie Evans.
“We also pass our thoughts to those at the hospital who supported the family in caring for Alfie. May Alfie rest peacefully.”
Alfie was born seemingly healthy on May 9, 2016. But that December a scan revealed “abnormalities” in his brain.
reject request from Alfie’s parents to look at the case. APRIL 11: Mr Justice Hayden endorses Alfie’s end-of-life care plan. APRIL 12: Protesters gather at Alder Hey as Alfie’s dad insists he has the right to take him home. APRIL 16: Alfie’s parents Just days later he was taken into Alder Hey with seizures. Alfie was transferred to intensive care in a coma and placed on a ventilator. He stayed there until his death.
Doctors believed he had a degenerative neurological condition and medics agreed his case was hopeless.
But his parents, from Bootle, Liverpool, fought for Alfie to be flown abroad for alternative treatment, gaining argue he is being wrongly “detained” at Alder Hey. Police investigate “instances of intimidation” among protesters. Judges raise concerns over reports ambulances were unable to enter the hospital and patients and families were frightened. Alfie’s parents apologise, saying they did not intend to “harm or conflict”. APRIL 17: Mr Evans and Ms James ask Supreme Court justices to consider their case for second time. APRIL 18: In Rome, Mr Evans meets Pope Francis and begs him to save Alfie. worldwide publicity. Mr Evans met Pope Francis last week begging him to “save our son”.
Alfie’s life support was withdrawn by a High Court order on Monday. He fought on for another six days.
In a statement on its website Alder Hey said: “We wish to express our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Alfie’s family at this extremely distressing time.
“All of us feel deeply for Alfie, Kate and Tom and his whole family and our thoughts are with them.” Supporters of Alfie and his parents criticised the decision not to allow him home to die yesterday.
Andrea Minichiello Williams from Alfie’s legal team said his parents’ final wishes had been ignored.
She added: “Alfie’s parents wanted him to go home to die in the end, but the hospital appeared to think they would have absconded with him. “It was ludicrous and heartbreaking. “Alfie died in hospital with police standing guard outside his door. That’s completely unsatisfactory.”
APRIL 20: The Supreme Court rules against Alfie’s parents who ask the European Court of Human Rights to take their son to Rome for treatment but are rejected again. APRIL 23: Protesters try to storm the hospital. Dozens of people charge
the doors. Alfie is granted Italian citizenship in a bid to have him treated there. Judge dismisses phoned submissions from lawyers. Around 9pm, life support is withdrawn.
APRIL 24: He is still breathing on his own. APRIL 25: Alfie’s parents fail in 11th-hour attempt to persuade judges to let them move Alfie to Italy. APRIL 26: Ms James and Mr Evans pledge to work alongside doctors to give the boy “the dignity and comfort he needs”. APRIL 28: Alfie dies at 2.30am.