Tragedy struck a preschool in the town of Kiryat Gat Sunday afternoon, when a 3-year old boy choked while playing in a playground sandbox. Attempts by emergency first responders and hospital staff to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, and the boy was ultimately declared dead.
Officials say the boy, a member of the Belz Hassidic community, apparently choked on sand which he or another child had placed in his mouth. A preschool teacher who noticed the boy exhibiting signs of distress called for emergency medical assistance.