Tragedy in Haredi neighborhood: 18 month old baby died in his sleep

A heartbreaking incident unfolded this morning in Jerusalem's Neve Yaakov neighborhood, where an 18-month-old boy passed away after failing to wake up from his sleep. The toddler, from an ultra-Orthodox family, had reportedly been feeling unwell the night before.

Emergency services responded to the family's home early Wednesday morning after receiving a distress call. First responders immediately began resuscitation efforts at the scene.

"The family informed us that the child had lost consciousness during sleep following symptoms of illness the previous night," said Dr. Yishai Ben Uri Zilbiger of United Hatzalah emergency services. Despite prolonged resuscitation attempts, the toddler was pronounced dead after being rushed to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital.

EMTs Eliezer Hess and Yossi Polishuk, who were among the first responders, confirmed that extensive life-saving measures were attempted both at the scene and during transport to the hospital.

The tragic news has deeply affected the close-knit Neve Yaakov community, a predominantly ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in northern Jerusalem.

Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.