Alfie Evans update: What time is the High Court hearing for baby Alfie today?
Mr Justice Hayden will oversee Alfie’s hearing in the Family Divisions of the High Court this afternoon in Manchester. The toddler, who has a degenerative neurological condition, is at the centre of a bitter legal battle between his parents and doctors at Alder Hey hospital. Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, are fighting in the courts to keep their son alive after doctors said his brain had been “eroded”. They lost a last-minute appeal on Monday with Alfie’s life-support being switched off at 9pm.
However, he baffled doctors as he continued to breathe unaided and has remained do so hours after his ventilator was removed. Speaking outside the hospital in Liverpool on Tuesday morning, his father said: "Nine hours he has been breathing now. It's actually come to the point where his mum is asleep next to him. “She can actually go to sleep next to him. She feels comfortable with him." What time is the High Court hearing for baby Alfie today? The legal hearing has been sent for around 3.30pm today, with Alfie’s parents expected to attend.
Alfie Evans latest: Protestors gather outside Alder Hey Hospital Mon, April 16, 2018 Alfie Evans latest: Protestors gather outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 18 Alfie Evans latest: Protestors gather outside Alder Hey Hospital
They want his treatment to continue and to be able to fly him to Rome to continue treatment. The Pope has expressed his support at helping the couple and Alfie has already been granted Italian citizenship. Mr Evans says he has pleaded with doctors to turn back on Alfie’s machine. He said: “They say Alfie's suffering. Well, look at him now. He's not even on a ventilator and he's not suffering.
GETTY Alfie Evans update: What time is the High Court hearing for baby Alfie today?
Mr Evans added that he had a "lengthy talk" with doctors and pleaded with them to give his son oxygen. He said: ”They left him for six hours without food, water and oxygen.” "I felt blessed when they confirmed they were going to give him his water and his oxygen. "He's now on oxygen. It's not changing his breathing but it's oxygenating his body.”
PA Alfie Evans update: Tom Evans talking to the media outside Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital
PA Alfie Evans update: Flowers outside the hospital where the 23-month-old baby remains