(ANSA) - Rome, April 24 - Terminally ill British toddler
Alfie Evans is still alive nine hours after his breathing tube
was removed, sources close to his family said Tuesday.
Alfie, who is now an Italian citizen, was taken off the
respirator at 22:30 British time Monday (23:30 Italian).
His parents Tom Evans and Kate James gave him mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation all night after he was taken off life support, the
sources said.
Diplomatic contacts are ongoing with the aim of putting Alfue
back on life support, sources said.
Alfie is still breathing but will need "help" to continue to
do so "in a couple of hours", his father Tom told the media
Tuesday.
This was not what doctors had expected, he said outside a
Liverpool hospital.
"They said he was suffering but instead he is not suffering
even without the respirator," said Tom Evans.
He added that Alfie had not had water or food for six hours
but was then hydrated by medics.
Alfie's mother Kate James is sleeping with him, Tom Evans
said.
Alfie was later put back on oxygen and water, his mother Kate
James said.
She added: "It doesn't matter what happens, he has already
shown that the doctors are wrong". Kate James said "it is
surprising".
Alfie still alive 9 hrs after tube out (4)
Parents give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation