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Home / Lifestyle

Final heartbreaking moments: Dad tried to resuscitate Alfie Evans

Daily Mail
30 Apr, 2018 04:45 AM5 mins to read

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Tom Evans kisses his son Alfie. Photo / Supplied

Tom Evans kisses his son Alfie. Photo / Supplied

Alfie Evans's mother has shared a touching poem in memory of her son who died in the early hours of Saturday (UK time).

Kate James, who fought a long-running legal battle over Alfie's treatment for a degerative neurological condition, shared a tribute to the 23-month-old with the words: "We love you Alfie."

The poem reads: "Mummy please don't cry now. For I must go to sleep. I'll be beside you always.

Kate James with son Alfie who died in the early hours of Saturday morning at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool. Photo / Supplied
Kate James with son Alfie who died in the early hours of Saturday morning at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool. Photo / Supplied

"To dry the tears you weep. Daddy please be strong now. It's time for me to rest. The three of us together dad. We fought, we done our best. You took my fight to everyone.

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"The courts, the queen, the pope. While still caring for your baby. You never give up hope.

"And now the pain bears heavy. As the time has come to part. Though you no longer hold me in your arms. I'll live on in your heart.

"For the good Lord he has called me. To sit there by his side. Watching over both of you. With never ending pride. A last message to my army.

"Please hold your loved ones tight. For no one's time is promised. Now I must say goodnight."

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It has also emerged that Alfie Evans's father, Tom Evans, battled to keep his son alive with mouth-to-mouth before being forced to accept he could not save him, the Daily Mail reported.

Kate James, who fought a long-running legal battle over Alfie's treatment for a degerative neurological condition, shared a supporter's tribute to the 23-month-old on Facebook.
Kate James, who fought a long-running legal battle over Alfie's treatment for a degerative neurological condition, shared a supporter's tribute to the 23-month-old on Facebook.

Family members have revealed how Tom, 21, was "blowing and blowing" as he tried to resuscitate Alfie for 10 minutes in the early hours of Saturday.

The 23-month-old, who was at the centre of a legal battle by his parents to take him out of the UK for treatment, died at about 2.30am.

Alfie's parents Tom and Kate James, 20, spent their final moments as a family lying in bed with their son, falling asleep together after he finally lost his battle against a rare degenerative disease.

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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 1.30am we got a call telling us to get back to the hospital."

Meanwhile, more than 1000 mourners gathered to pay their respects after the news of his tragic death was revealed over Facebook.

As his parents, Tom and Kate, both from Liverpool, mourned inside Alder Hey Hospital, family members, friends and supporters consoled one another outside.

Supporters chanted his name, sang You Will Never Walk Alone and released balloons - at which point eagle eyed social media users claim to have spotted a face in the clouds.

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Tom Evans, 21, kisses son Alfie. Photo / Supplied
Tom Evans, 21, kisses son Alfie. Photo / Supplied

One image of the emotional vigil has shocked people on Facebook who say they can see Alfie.

On Facebook Anne-Marie Iliff said: "I see the wee mans face in the clouds."

Hazel Broadie said: "When the balloons got released the sun came out and in the clouds it looks like a smiling baby lay down !!! Deffo little Alfie looking down on everyone rip little man."

Natalie Marie, added: "Looking down on his army x."

Brain-damaged toddler Alfie Evans' final moments have been revealed. Photo / AP
Brain-damaged toddler Alfie Evans' final moments have been revealed. Photo / AP

Sharnie McDonagh shared another image, writing: "Some one just shared this when lettin (sic) balloons go for lil Alfie can see our sleeping soldier in the clouds rest in peace sleep tight lilman always in our hearts."

Natalie-Naily Price wrote: "awww look... little Alfie looking down on his army, God love him. x."

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Alfie's mum Kate James shared a poem on Facebook, with the words "we love you Alfie".

The toddler, whose exact condition had not been diagnosed, is believed to have suffered from a DNA-related mitochondrial disease.

Alfie was born healthy but after making strange jerking movements at home and missing some key developments in early life, was taken into hospital.

People release balloons outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital following the death of 23-month old Alfie Evans. Photo / AP
People release balloons outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital following the death of 23-month old Alfie Evans. Photo / AP
A woman holds balloons with photos of Alfie Evans, outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital, following the death of the 23-month-old. Photo / AP
A woman holds balloons with photos of Alfie Evans, outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital, following the death of the 23-month-old. Photo / AP
A woman leaves flowers outside the hospital. Photo / AP
A woman leaves flowers outside the hospital. Photo / AP
Tom Evans and Kate James took their case to the courts. Photo / AP
Tom Evans and Kate James took their case to the courts. Photo / AP

Alfie went into in a semi-vegetative state for over a year.

Alfie's parents, Thomas and Kate, had fought to take him to Italy for treatment but a judge ruled the terminally sick child should not be allowed to leave the country.

On Wednesday, the final appeal was lost.

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Mourners posted photos of what they say were a young boy's face in the clouds at the memorial event.
Mourners posted photos of what they say were a young boy's face in the clouds at the memorial event.

Alfie was breathing after being taken off life-support for five days, but took his last breath at 2.30am on Saturday.

The parents announced Alfie's death on Saturday, as tens of thousands paid tribute on Facebook.

Tom, 21, wrote: "My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30... absolutely heartbroken.

"I LOVE YOU MY GUY."

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. Photo / AP
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. Photo / AP

According to reports, the parents slept by Alfie's side for hours after his death, in their final hours as a family.

Mr Evans had previously argued his son was well enough to fly to Italy after surviving days off of life support.

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High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden said in his ruling: "The sad truth is that it is not. With little, indeed no hesitation, I reject that."

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