（2018年4月24日）據美聯社報道，一位身患絕症的英國幼兒的父親說，他的孩子在被法院判決結束治療失去生命支持後居然活了下來，這讓那些認為他應該被允許死亡的醫生感到驚訝。隨後，義大利國防部出手相救，將他接到義大利去治療。
湯姆·埃文斯說，他23個月大的兒子阿爾菲在沒有任何幫助的情況下存活了6個小時，醫生現在正在為他提供氧氣和補水。阿爾菲處於半植物人狀態，由於退化的神經狀況，醫生一直對這種情況束手無策，然後向法院提出申請，要求法庭裁決結束徒勞的治療，最終法庭同意了醫生的決定，剝奪了阿爾菲的生命支持系統，然而這個孩子卻堅強的活了下來。
21歲的埃文斯和20歲的凱特·詹姆斯，此前一直想帶他們的孩子去梵蒂岡Bambino Gesu兒童醫院接受治療。但是利物浦Al Hey兒童醫院的醫生認為，這不符合幼兒的最佳利益，最終英國法院同意了醫生的看法。
此案引起了教皇方濟各的注意，他為阿爾菲和其他患有嚴重病症的人祈禱，並呼籲讓這個男孩活下去，並說只有上帝才能決定誰死去。梵蒂岡Bambino Gesu兒科醫院的負責人表示，如果允許，義大利國防部準備派一架飛機將阿爾菲接到義大利。
在接受義大利第24電台採訪時，前往英國利物浦親自嘗試代表孩子父母對孩子的治療進行干預的瑪莉耶拉·埃諾克（Mariella Enoc）說，她與義大利駐倫敦大使進行了溝通，稱這架飛機接了阿爾菲後，可以在幾分鐘內就離開英國。
23日，義大利外交部宣布授予阿爾菲義大利公民身份，以方便他乘坐飛機抵達義大利。
Alfie Evans’ father reveals son has been breathing unassisted after life support stops
Alfie Evans’ life support was removed at 9.17pm on Monday evening CREDIT: PETER BRYNE/PA
Telegraph Reporters
24 APRIL 2018 • 9:15AM
Doctors have been left “gobsmacked” after Alfie Evans’ life-support was withdrawn but he continued to live, his father has said.
Tom Evans said it was obvious that the youngster was breathing unassisted “within a few minutes” of life-support being withdrawn on Monday night.
Earlier, a High Court judge had dismissed a “last-ditch appeal” by Mr Evans and Alfie’s mother, Kate James, to be given more time to mount a further challenge to a decision to end the 23-month-old’s treatment.
Speaking outside Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on Tuesday morning, his father said Alfie’s life-support should be reinstated due to his remarkable progress.
“He is still working, he’s doing as good as he can,” he said.
“But we do need him to be supported … in the next hour it’s going to be hard but we will need him to be supported in the next hour or two.
Tom Evans said that his son was still breathing after nine hours CREDIT: AFP
“Because he’s been doing it for nine hours totally unexpected, the doctors are gobsmacked and I do believe he will need some form of life-support in the next couple of hours and I think he ought to be respected and given that.”
Alfie’s parents want treatment to continue and want to fly him to a hospital in Rome.
His case has been highlighted by the Pope, who expressed support for the couple, and he has been granted Italian citizenship.
Mr Justice Hayden analysed issues at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court late on Monday.
The judge heard submissions from lawyers representing hospital bosses, Alfie’s parents and the youngster via a telephone link.
Police block protesters from the entrance to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where Alfie’s life support was turned off CREDIT: PETER BRYNE/PA
However, Mr Justice Hayden refused their application for more time and gave doctors the go-ahead to stop treatment and bring Alfie’s life to an end.
After life-support was withdrawn, Alfie continued breathing and doctors agreed to give him oxygen and water, Mr Evans said.
“They say Alfie’s suffering. Well, look at him now. He’s not even on a ventilator and he’s not suffering,” he told reporters.
Mr Evans said that he had a “lengthy talk” with doctors and pleaded with them to give his son oxygen.
“They left him for six hours without food, water and oxygen,” he said.
“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.”
A statement from Alder Hay Children’s Hospital this morning said: “Out of respect for the privacy of Alfie and his family we will not be issuing any updates about his condition.”
On Monday Alfie was granted Italian citizenship after the Pope stepped in to help his case, as the toddler’s family hope they can save his life with treatment there.
Police block protesters from the entrance to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool CREDIT: CHRIS NEILL/MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY
The move was announced in a statement from the Italian foreign ministry in the hope that he can be 「immediately」 transferred from hospital in Liverpool, where doctors are due to pull the plug on his life support system, for treatment.
The statement read: 「Foreign minister Angelino Alfano and interior minister Marco Minniti have granted citizenship to little Alfie.
「The Italian government hopes that in this way, being an Italian citizen will enable the immediate transfer of the child to Italy.」
Yesterday about 200 people turned up to protest outside the Liverpool Alder Hey hospital after judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) refused to intervene in the case.
An angry mob tried to charge inside the children’s hospital after the final legal appeal to continue treatment was lost, but their path was blocked by police officers forming a line to repel intruders.
Alfie Evans: Granted Italian citizenship in hopes of treatment in Rome
Terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans has been granted Italian citizenship.
The Italian Foreign Office confirmed in a statement on its website that they have officially granted the 23-month-old citizenship.
It comes as the European Court of Human Rights rejected the toddler’s parents’ pleas to intervene in the life support battle.
It’s in hope that Alfie can he be taken to a hospital in Rome for treatment.
The father of Alfie last week met the Pope who backed his support for treatment for the toddler.
Alfie’s father Tom previously met with the Pope to appeal for help
Last updated Mon 23 Apr 2018