A high court judge in Manchester is to hold an emergency hearing about Alfie Evans’ care after it emerged that the gravely ill toddler had been breathing unaided for nine hours.
Mr Justice Hayden is scheduled to oversee another hearing in Alfie Evans’ case in the Family Division of the High Court in Manchester at 3.30pm today, following reports that the gravely ill toddler, who has been granted Italian citizenship, was this morning still alive and breathing without a ventilator after having life support withdrawn last night. He has been given oxygen and hydration at Alder Hey hospital.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have yet to respond after the Italian foreign office said they hoped Alfie Evans would be allowed "immediate transfer to Italy" where the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital has offered to take over his palliative care.
In a Facebook live video, Alfie's father Thomas Evans, 21, said: "Just to update you all, Alfie's sustained his life since 17 minutes past nine." At that point, he said he needed oxygen but wasn't getting any. He said he was losing his colour and his fingers were turning blue. "We need someone to help us. We need him just to be oxygenated."
Pope Francis tweeted: "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."
Bishop of Porstmouth Philip Egan tweeted: "Let’s offer heartfelt prayers today for little Alfie Evans - now an Italian citizen - and his courageous parents. If there is anything at all that can be done, may the Lord enable us by His love and grace to effect it.
The Christian Legal Centre, which represents Alfie's parents, said: "The Italian ambassador has urgently contacted the court with a request for the Italian government to be allowed to intervene in the case and seek the return of their citizen Alfie Evans to Italy."
The High Court ruled in February that Alder Hey Children's Hospital could stop providing life support for Alfie.
The parents have subsequently lost several challenges to this decision.
In Liverpool, about 200 protesters turned up at the hospital yesterday and some were blocked by a line of police from an attempt to storm the hospital after the parents lost their latest appeal. Last week the parents also lost an attempt to persuade the Supreme Court to let them appeal an order that the boy's life support be turned off.
Lady Hale, Lord Kerr and Lord Wilson in the Supreme Court ruled that Alfie, 23 months, had no hope of ever getting better and that his parents Tom Evans and Kate James "have to face the facts".
Acknowledging it is a "desperately sad case", they said that while Alfie looks like a normal baby, the unanimous opinion of the doctors who have examined him and the scans of his brain is that almost all of his brain has been destroyed.
"No-one knows why. But that it has happened and is continuing to happen cannot be denied. It means that Alfie cannot breathe, or eat, or drink without sophisticated medical treatment. It also means that there is no hope of his ever getting better."
In a statement this morning, Alder Hey 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. Our Emergency Department is still open, however only attend if you have an accident or emergency that requires urgent care. If it is not an emergency, please attend your local GP or visit your walk-in centre. 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. Thank you for your continued cooperation."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Alfie Evan’s family are going through an exceptionally difficult time and our thoughts are with them. Clearly this is a complex legal matter but at its heart is the wellbeing of a young child and that remains everyone's focus.”
Pic: 1. Police block protesters from the entrance to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool after the European Court of Human Rights rejected an appeal against the decision to end life-support for Alfie Evans. Picture by: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/PA Images. 2. Alfie Evans breathes unaided in his mother's arms after his life support was withdrawn. Credit: Alfie's Army Facebook Page.
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