Alfie Evans' dad says ventilator could be switched off on Friday

Alfie Evans’ life support could be switched off as early as Friday according to the brain-damaged toddler’s dad.

The 22-month-old, who has an undiagnosed brain condition, could be taken off his ventilator at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool this week, Tom Evans has claimed in an emotional Facebook post.

Parents Tom and Kate James lodged an application on Thursday with the Court of Appeal to be able to appeal to the Supreme Court.

A spokesman for the The Court of Appeal this morning said

The parents will now appeal directly to The Supreme Court, in a bid to overturn a decision made by the High Court, that Alder Hey should withdraw life support.

If refused by the Supreme Court - which hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance affecting the whole population - their last chance is to go to the European Court of Human Rights.

A deadline was not set by the High Court for when Alfie’s ventilation would be withdrawn and judges at the Court of Appeal ruled that end of life arrangements would be made in a discussion between both the family and the hospital.

However, in a post on Alfie’s Army Official Facebook page, dad Tom claimed Alder Hey have requested to meet him today, to discuss removing his son’s ventilator on Friday.

His post read:

On the same post the heartbroken dad shared pictures of Alfie with UFC cage fighter Darren Till, who came to visit the ill youngster.

He wrote: