Alfie Evans clings to life after doctors withdraw life support

Alfie Evans, the terminally-ill toddler from Liverpool, has been clinging to life after Alder Hey Hospital removed his life support system.

The controversial decision was made on Monday, April 23, 2018. Justice Hayden, a High Court judge, dismissed a last-ditch appeal from the boy's parents, Tom and Kate James, who sought to prolong his life.

Surprisingly, the toddler kept on breathing and was still doing so after 12 hours. Alfie's parents wanted doctors to help him but they refuse to do so because they believed it to be pointless, as reported by the Daily Mail.

21-year-old Tom said that his son's ventilator was removed at around 9 p.m. and that doctors couldn't believe their eyes when they realized that Alfie was still breathing.

The toddler has been resting in his mother's arms since his life support was shut down. Doctors argued that, although he was breathing, the respiratory flow wouldn't be enough to sustain life.

After learning of the boy's condition, Pope Francis took to his official Twitter page to support the parent's wish for him to be transported and treated at the Bambino Gesu Hospital, in Rome.

The 2-year-old was granted Italian citizenship so he could be sent abroad to be looked after by a team of doctors willing to help him.

The medical staff at Alder Hey hospital insisted that it was in Alfie's best interests to pass away due to being in a 'semi-vegetative state' and having a degenerative neurological condition that doctors are yet to diagnose.

On Monday, a crowd of over 200 protesters gathered outside the hospital and tried to break in. The police force managed to stop them but they formed a human chain around an ambulance, singing 'Save Alfie Evans.'

Tom and Kate will continue to wait for the Italian authorities to contact Boris Johnson, UK Foreign Secretary, so the trip to Rome can be arranged.