British toddler Alfie Evans died

london - The British toddler Alfie Evans died early Saturday morning. That's what the father of the incurably ill boy has known via Facebook, with a 'broken heart.' 'My gladiator has laid down his shield and received wings,' Tom Evans wrote. Mother Kate James said goodbye in similar terms and thanked everyone for the statements of support.

Alfie, 23 months old, suffered a rare degenerative brain disorder and had been in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year. He could not move, speak and hear. Continuing treatment was, according to the doctors, pointless.

After a number of lawsuits, which led to much commotion, the children's hospital Alder Hey in Liverpool decided to end the life support measures on Monday, against the wishes of the parents. They wanted to bring their son to Rome in the hope of salvation, but they did not get permission.

The affair attracted worldwide attention. The key question was whether judges, doctors or parents have the right to decide on the life of a young child. The father and mother of Alfie were supported by, among others, Pope Francis and the Polish president Andrzej Duda. Their hope for a miracle increased because their son, who soon had Italian nationality, continued breathing for several days on his own.

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