LONDON — Alfie Evans, the terminally ill British toddler who was at the center of a bitter legal battle, died on Saturday morning, his parents said, five days after he was taken off life support.

His mother, Kate James, posted on a Facebook page dedicated to his case, Alfie’s Army: “Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2:30 a.m. We are heartbroken.”

His father, Thomas Evans, also posted on Facebook, “My gladiator lay down his shield,” adding, “I love you, my guy.”

Alfie, 23 months old, had a rare degenerative brain condition that his doctors said was incurable. He had been in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England, where he had been getting treatment, concluded it would be futile to treat him further.