The terminally ill British toddler who was just 23 months old and whose medical case drew attention, protests and prayers from all over the globe has passed away, his distraught parents announced to the world Saturday morning.

“Socialized medicine is what killed Alfie Evans,” an outraged New York man and father of four told LifeZette on Saturday. “Once that child was in that hospital, all the rights of the parents were taken away … It is beyond upsetting.”

The boy’s parents, Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, wrote Saturday on social media that they were “absolutely heartbroken” about their son’s passing.

The child was born to the couple in May 2016. He suffered a series of seizures that year and was admitted to a Liverpool hospital, where he’s been ever since, as Fox News and other outlets have reported.

“Alfie developed an incurable degenerative brain condition and was at the center of a legal battle over his treatment,” the outlet reported.

“Doctors said further treatment was futile and recommended that Alfie be allowed to die, but his parents — backed by the pope and Christian groups — fought for months to take him to a hospital in Italy so he could be kept on life support,” Fox News also noted.

“The hospital withdrew Alfie’s life support Monday after a series of court rulings sided with doctors, who said continuing Alfie’s treatment was ‘not in Alfie’s best interests.'”

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“Under British law, courts often intervene when parents and doctors disagree over the treatment of a child, whose rights often take precedent over the parents’ right to decide what’s best.”

There’s been an outpouring of outrage — plus prayers and support for the family — after the devastating news on Saturday. Here’s just a sampling:

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