Alfie Evans supporters have lined the streets of
Liverpool to say their final goodbye to the tragic tot as his funeral takes place today.
The 23-month-old died on April 28 after a dramatic court battle with hospital doctors to save his life, and today he has been remembered as ‘The Boy Who Brought The World Together’.
Alfie had a degenerative neurological brain condition and his case drew international attention when his parents became determined to keep him on life support.
The funeral service is private, but crowds of supporters have lined the route of his funeral on Walton Lane leaving ballons and flowers along the road.
The procession passed by Goodison Park, the home ground of Preimer League Club Everton.
Many of Alfie’s supporters, dubbed Alfie’s Army, left hand-written messages at the front gate of Goodison Park.
One said: “If love alone could have kept you here, you would have lived forever.”
Another message simply put “twinkle twinkle little star” with a framed photo of the toddler.
Ch Insp Chis Gibson, from Merseyside Police, said Aflie’s parents “continue to thank the community”.
Other mourners were seen with their hands in their face sobbing as Alfie’s cortege went passed with flowers covering the hood of the hearse.
On top of the hearse are the words “Our hero” in a white and blue flower arrangement.
The small, white coffin can be seen through the window and is embellished with toy soldiers and guards along with a blue heart saying “Alfie’s Army” on the side.
Alfie’s parents Tom and Kate requested supporters to wear bright colours and not black.
Alfie was born in May 2016 and was admitted to Liverpool’s Alder Hey Hospital in December the same year.
He was suffering seizures and had been a patient ever since.
He had been in a semi-vegitative state for more than a year before his life support was ultimately withdrawn.
Tom and Kate’s passionate campaign against the decision saw the pair clash with doctors and they lost all legal challengers to a court ruling allowing the hospital to withdraw ventilation.
Their pleas attracted the attention of the Pope who expressed his support for the family. Alfie’s parents had also wanted to seek out further treatment in Italy.
In a post on the Alfie's Army Facebook page, Alfie's uncle Daniel Evans said: "The funeral will be private due to family's wishes, we ask that no one turns up unless you have been personally invited by Thomas and Kate as there's a limited number of people who are allowed to attend, invitations are currently being sorted out for family and close friends.
"Thank you all for your support."
He added: "Both the funeral and wake will not be open to the public or media, with our attendance purely being to offer support for those attending the funeral.
"Those who have not been invited to the funeral are asked to avoid the area to allow Alfie’s family to grieve privately."
One other family member wrote on the page: "Please can you wear something as bright as possible not black thanks, we ask please that you respect the privacy for the funeral.
"Let’s give our little blue warrior our love, light a candle for our boy. There's only one Alfie Evans."