ALFIE Evans’s dad reportedly battled to keep the dying tot alive by giving him mouth-to-mouth in his final moments — as new footage shows him sleeping the day before.

Distraught Tom Evans, 21, is said to have spent 10 minutes fighting to resuscitate his son, who suffered from a rare degenerative condition, before being forced to accept he was gone.

Outside the hospital, a tearful crowd sang You’ll Never Walk Alone and released blue and purple heart-shaped balloons into the sky.

Some supporters even claimed to see the boy’s face in the clouds.

Alfie had survived for five days after being taken off life support following months of conflict between his parents, doctors and the courts.

Doctors overseeing his care said further treatment was futile and Alfie should be allowed to die, but the boy’s parents fought for months to convince judges to allow them to take him to the Vatican’s children’s hospital to be kept on life support. The campaign was backed by Pope Francis.

A relative told the Mirror: “It had been a really hard day as Alfie had been struggling to breathe from the early morning.

“He picked up and we thought everything was going to be OK.

“But at around 1.30am we got a call telling us to get back to the hospital.”

They told how Tom “was blowing and blowing and blowing” but in the end it wasn’t enough to save the youngster.

Tom, as well as Alfie’s mum Kate James, held 23-month-old Alfie in their arms as he passed away at 2.30am on Saturday in Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The shattered couple then reportedly fell asleep at his side as they spent a final few hours with him.

Devastated Tom shared his passing with the world, writing on the Alfie’s Army support group page: “My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02.30 ... absolutely heartbroken ... I LOVE YOU MY GUY.”

Kate wrote: “Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2.30am. We are heartbroken. Thankyou everyone for all your support.”

Family friend Laura McKenzie said: “Tom and Kate really appreciate everyone coming and showing their love.

“The whole world showed how much Alfie was loved and we’ll never, ever, ever forget him or his name. No one will.”

Floral tributes and balloons were also left outside the doors of the hospital, which some of Alfie’s Army had tried to storm last week.

One card left by charity fundraiser and local celebrity Speedy Mick read: “Rest in peace, little Blue Nose. You shone brighter than the sun.”

Another said: “Alfie you stole the heart of the world. We love you and will always fight for you. Forever in our hearts.”

Tom Evans said he believed his son could live for years if he was allowed to go home Alder Hey Children’s Hospital released a statement offering their “heartfelt sympathy” to Alfie’s family while adding that their “thoughts are with them” after a “devastating journey”.

A spokesman said: “All of us feel deeply for Alfie, Kate, Tom and his whole family and our thoughts are with them.

“This has been a devastating journey for them and we would ask that their privacy and that of staff at Alder Hey is respected.”