Alfie Evans update: Father of seriously ill toddler claims son has been ‘breathing alone for nine hours after life-support withdrawn'

The father of seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans has said his son has continued breathing despite doctors turning off his life-support following a court ruling.

Tom Evans told reporters outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool that the 23-month-old had been breathing on his own for nine hours.

He claimed doctors had been left “gobsmacked” that the child was able to survive after oxygen, food and water were withdrawn.

The hospital has not yet commented on Mr Evans claims.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital early on Tuesday, Mr Evans it was clear his son was breathing alone after “a few minutes” of the ventilator being turned off.

“For nine hours Alfie has been breathing for. He is still breathing now,” he said, adding that his son’s “stats aren’t his best” and that he would most likely need more life support in the next couple of hours.

He said that, after Alfie began breathing on his own, Mr Evans sat down with doctors and “told them that this was becoming unlawful in my opinion”.

“It wasn’t in the court order that he would be starved of food or hydration and that we would potentially be starved of oxygen as well,” he said.

“[The doctor] ended up saying I am right. I have always been right - they say Alfie is suffering and look at him now, he is not even on a ventilator and he is not suffering.”

He said the toddler, who doctors say has a degenerative neurological condition, was without nutrients or water for six hours but doctors will now hydrate him and provide oxygen.

“He is still working, he is doing as good as he can but we do need him to be supported in the next hour. It’s going to be hard, he has been doing this for nine hours totally unexpected - the doctors are gobsmacked - so I do think he will need some kind of life support it he next couple of hours.”

On Monday night High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden dismissed a "last-ditch appeal" by Mr Evans and his partner Kate James – both in their early 20s – and said doctors could stop providing life-support treatment to Alfie.

Mr Evans and Ms James asked for a delay to give them time to mount a further challenge but the judge refused their application and gave doctors the go-ahead to stop treatment and bring Alfie's life to an end.

The judge had heard submissions from lawyers representing hospital bosses, Alfie's parents and Alfie.

Alfie's parents wanted treatment to continue and wanted to fly their son to a hospital in Rome.

Barrister Paul Diamond, who represents the couple, told the judge that Alfie had been granted Italian citizenship on Monday.

But Michael Mylonas QC, who leads Alder Hey's team, said any granting of Italian citizenship made no difference.

Sophia Roper, who represents Alfie and takes instructions from a court-appointed guardian, agreed with Mr Mylonas.

Mr Justice Hayden dismissed Mr Diamond's application as a "last-ditch appeal".

At one point on Monday supporters of the family had attempted to storm Alder Hey and ran towards the main doors but police blocked their way. Police remained outside the entrances to the children's hospital throughout the day.

Alfie's parents have fought a lengthy legal battle.

Judges have heard that Alfie, born on May 9 2016, is in a "semi-vegetative state" and has a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed. Specialists say his brain has been "eroded".

A spokesman for Alder Hey Children's Hospital said: "We wish to reassure patients and families attending Alder Hey hospital today that we are operating as usual and that, although you will see a police presence, the hospital is calm. Please attend your appointments as normal."

He added: "Please be aware, out of respect for the privacy of Alfie and his family we will not be issuing any updates about his condition.

"This is our normal and agreed practice with all our patients. We would be grateful if you would respect this approach and not contact any hospital staff or call our switchboard seeking updates."