Little Alfie Evans's final moments revealed: Dad Thomas continued to resuscitate toddler till the tragic end
Alfie Evans's father struggled to keep his dying son alive by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in his last moments, reports say.
21-year-old Thomas Evans was devastated when he was forced to accept that his son had passed away after spending nearly ten minutes continuously fighting to resuscitate him. Little Alfie was suffering from a rare degenerative condition, reported BBC.
After hospital authorities took off ventilator support from the toddler, the brave tot continued to breathe unaided for five days after months of legal battles between his parents, prosecutors, and doctors.
A relative told the Mirror: “It had been a really hard day as Alfie had been struggling to breathe from the early morning.
“He picked up and we thought everything was going to be OK.
“But at around 1.30 am we got a call telling us to get back to the hospital.”
Hospital authorities told reporters how, in the final moments, the young father kept "blowing and blowing and blowing" but in the end, the embattled infant's life could not be retrieved.
23-month-old Alfie's parents held him in their arms as he passed away in Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children's Hospital on Saturday at 2:30 am.
According to hospital sources, the dazed couple fell asleep at their dead son's bedside while trying to spend as much time with him as they could.
Alfie's Army gathered outside the hospital, and in tears, they sang You'll Never Walk Alone. They released blue and purple heart-shaped balloons into the sky, paying their love and respect for the brave toddler.
The aggrieved father shared the message of his son's passing with the world by posting on the Alfie's Army support group: "My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30... absolutely heartbroken... I LOVE YOU, MY GUY".
Kate James, Alfie's mother, wrote: "Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2.30 am. We are heartbroken. Thank you, everyone, for all your support".
Laura McKenzie, a friend of the family, said: “Tom and Kate really appreciate everyone coming and showing their love.
“The whole world showed how much Alfie was loved and we’ll never, ever, ever forget him or his name. No one will.”
The front porch of Alder Hey was lined with floral tributes and heart-shaped balloons were left outside the hospital doors.
Local celebrity and charity fundraiser Speedy Mick left a card which read: “Rest in peace, little Blue Nose. You shone brighter than the sun.”
Another said: “Alfie you stole the heart of the world. We love you and will always fight for you. Forever in our hearts.”
The RC Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, said: "All who have been touched by the story of this little boy's heroic struggle for life will feel this loss deeply.
"Now it is time for us to give Tom and Kate space to grieve their son's death and offer our prayers for him and consolation for all."
Although Thomas believed that his son would have lived for years if the hospital would let him take Alfie home, Alder Hey released a statement offering their heartfelt sympathy to the family and said that their "thoughts are with them" after a "devastating journey."
A spokesman said: “All of us feel deeply for Alfie, Kate, Tom and his whole family and our thoughts are with them.
“This has been a devastating journey for them and we would ask that their privacy and that of staff at Alder Hey is respected.”