British toddler at center of legal battle dies
Tom Evans holds up his phone showing a photo of his son Alfie as he speaks to the media outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital where the 23-month-old who has been at the centre of a life-support treatment dispute, in Liverpool, England, Thursday April 26, 2018. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
People hold candles as they attend a prayer vigil for terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Thursday, April 26, 2018. The British hospital treating Alfie Evans withdrew his life support Monday after a series of court rulings sided with the doctors and blocked further medical treatment. On Wednesday the Court of Appeal rejected a new bid by the parents to take Alfie to the Vatican's hospital in Rome. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
People hold candles as they attend a prayer vigil for terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Thursday, April 26, 2018. The British hospital treating Alfie Evans withdrew his life support Monday after a series of court rulings sided with the doctors and blocked further medical treatment. On Wednesday the Court of Appeal rejected a new bid by the parents to take Alfie to the Vatican's hospital in Rome. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
LONDON — The parents of a terminally ill British toddler whose case drew attention from Pope Francis and others around the world say they are “heartbroken” that their son has died.
Kate James and Tom Evans said on Facebook that 23-month-old Alfie Evans, who had an incurable degenerative brain condition and was at the center of a legal battle over his treatment, died on Saturday morning.
Doctors treating Alfie said further treatment was futile and he should be allowed to die, but his parents — backed by the pope and Christian groups — fought for months to take him to a hospital in Italy so he could be kept on life support.
The hospital withdrew Alfie’s life support Monday after a series of court rulings sided with doctors.
