Alfie Evans 'still breathing' hours after life support was withdrawn, father says

Father claims doctors left 'gobsmacked' after terminally ill toddler breathes unassisted

The father of Alfie Evans has claimed doctors were left “gobsmacked” after the terminally ill toddler’s life support was withdrawn but he continued to survive.

Tom Evans said it was obvious his son was breathing unassisted “within a few minutes” of life support being withdrawn on Monday night.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said they could not confirm or deny his account as they did not comment on individual cases.

Alfie is in a “semi-vegetative state” resulting from a degenerative neurological condition doctors have been unable to identify.

After life support was withdrawn, the 23-month-old continued breathing and doctors agreed to give him oxygen and water, Mr Evans said.

On Monday, a High Court judge dismissed a “last-ditch appeal” by Mr Evans and Alfie’s mother, Kate James, to be given more time to mount a further challenge to a decision to end the toddler’s treatment.

After life-support was withdrawn, the 23-month-old continued breathing and doctors agreed to give him oxygen and water, his father says

Speaking outside Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on Tuesday morning, his father said Alfie’s life support should be reinstated due to his remarkable progress.

“He is still working, he’s doing as good as he can,” he told reporters. “But we do need him to be supported... in the next hour it’s going to be hard but we will need him to be supported in the next hour or two.

“Because he’s been doing it for nine hours totally unexpected, the doctors are gobsmacked and I do believe he will need some form of life support in the next couple of hours and I think he ought to be respected and given that.”

Judges heard Alfie Evans is in a ‘semi-vegetative state’ with a degenerative neurological condition (PA)

Alfie’s parents want treatment to continue a a hospital in Rome.

His case has been highlighted by the Pope, who expressed support for the couple, and he has been granted Italian citizenship.

In a tweet on Monday, Pope Francis said: “Moved by the prayers and immense solidarity shown little Alfie Evans, I renew my appeal that the suffering of his parents may be heard and that their desire to seek new forms of treatment may be granted.”

Mr Justice Hayden had analysed the issues at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court.

The judge heard submissions from lawyers representing hospital bosses, Alfie’s parents and the youngster via a telephone link.

However, Mr Justice Hayden refused their application for more time and gave doctors the go-ahead to stop treatment and bring Alfie’s life to an end.

Tom Evans and Kate James, the parents of 21-month-old Alfie Evans, want treatment to continue and want to fly him to a hospital in Rome (PA)

Speaking outside the hospital, Mr Evans said: “They say Alfie’s suffering. Well, look at him now. He’s not even on a ventilator and he’s not suffering.”

He said he had a “lengthy talk” with doctors and pleaded with them to give his son oxygen.

“They left him for six hours without food, water and oxygen,” he said. “I felt blessed when they confirmed they were going to give him his water and his oxygen.

“He’s now on oxygen. It’s not changing his breathing but it’s oxygenating his body.”

Specialists say his brain has been “eroded” and at a hearing in February, Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence which showed further treatment was futile.

Judges at the Court of Appeals have upheld his decisions, while Supreme Court justices and European Court of Human Rights judges have refused to intervene.

At one point on Monday, supporters of the family attempted to storm Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where Alfie currently is.

They ran towards the main doors, but police blocked their way.

Additional reporting by Press Association