Tragedies – Team Protect

The Stories Behind the Statistics

It was a normal day. A daycare drop-off. A holiday swim. A quick stop at the store.

From Miami to Ashdod, from Paris to Lakewood, tragedy has struck not because of recklessness — but because of routine. Distraction. Exhaustion. A miscommunication. A world undone.

These are not stories of negligence. They are stories of real families — like yours, like ours — whose lives changed forever in a matter of minutes.

This sampling of real stories is not here to assign blame, but to inspire action. To save lives. To say clearly: “It could happen to any of us. And it doesn’t have to.”

These are some of the faces and names behind the statistics. Let their memories be a catalyst for layered safety, vigilance, and change.

No one is immune. But everyone can prepare.

Hot Car Accidents

Child – Negev, Israel

A four-year-old girl was brought to a clinic in Ar'ara BaNegev in southern Israel after being left for an extended period in a closed vehicle. The police have opened an investigation.

MDA emergency medical responders Eliyosef Almalach and Ahmad Abu Tsaluk said: “This is a shocking case…We began performing medical examinations and found that she had no pulse and was not breathing, and she suffered from signs of heatstroke and severe burns on her body. We began resuscitation efforts, but unfortunately, we had to pronounce her dead on site,” they added.

Infant — Lakewood, NJ

A father returned home to retrieve a forgotten baby bottle after dropping off 4 of his 6 children at school. With the bottle in hand, he resumed his morning routine — but tragically forgot his infant son was still in the back seat. He parked outside a yeshiva where he is a student, leaving the child in the van for approximately two hours. Temperatures inside the vehicle reached 96°F. The alarm was raised when the babysitter noticed the baby hadn’t arrived and contacted the child’s mother, who in turn tried to reach her husband. The babysitter’s teenage son eventually located the van. By then, the baby was unresponsive and could not be revived. The father was later charged with child endangerment.

Infant — East Hanover, NJ

On a scorching day in East Hanover, NJ, police responded to reports of a baby left in a parked car. The infant was found unconscious and pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital. Her mother was also taken in for evaluation. The car’s internal temperature had soared into the triple digits. No charges were filed at the time.

Infant — Lakewood, NJ (Synagogue Incident)

A father dropped one child at daycare and believed he had dropped the infant too. He continued to his synagogue and only realized the error over four hours later when calling the daycare. When he returned to his car, his baby was lifeless. The car interior had reached 117°F. The father was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Toddler — Monticello, NY

Hours after the Lakewood tragedy described above, a toddler was found lifeless in a hot car outside Sleepy Hollow Apartments in Monticello, NY. Despite immediate emergency response, she was declared dead at the scene. The New York State Police began an investigation. Her story underscores how widespread — and repeating — these tragedies are.

Pool Accidents

Sholom Dovber Markel — Portersville, PA

During a family visit to Pleasant Valley Beach in Moraine State Park, Sholom drowned in a designated swimming area. He was the grandson of two prominent rabbis and beloved by his community. His death was a devastating loss, remembered as the silencing of a radiant and joyful soul who "aimed to bring Moshiach."

Infant — Ashdod, Israel

This story is distinct from a previously mentioned Ashdod case. A baby left for two hours in a hot car was rushed to Assuta Hospital after being found unconscious. Medics described signs of severe heatstroke. Despite resuscitation efforts, the baby passed away.

Toddler — Sderot, Israel

Left in a locked car under a midday sun reaching 91°F (33°C), this toddler was discovered by a passerby. When paramedics arrived, she was unconscious and burning to the touch. Despite intensive resuscitation efforts, she was pronounced dead at Barzilai Medical Center. The case made headlines nationwide.

Noa Abitbol — Beit Shemesh, Israel

Noa, daughter of Rabbi Alexander Elkana Abitbol and his wife Naama, was mistakenly left in the family’s vehicle for several hours on a hot day. MDA paramedics performed advanced resuscitation and CPR during transport, but she was declared dead at Shaare Zedek Hospital. Her levaya took place at Shamgar and she was buried on Har Hamenuchos.

Toddler — Ashdod, Israel

A three-year-old boy was found locked in a parked car in Ashdod. He was already unconscious when paramedics arrived. Police opened a criminal investigation, and the Assuta Medical Center confirmed his death by heatstroke. Media reports noted this as part of a "recurring scourge" of hot car deaths in Israel.

Infant — Elad, Israel

In the city of Elad, a father left his infant son in the car for over three hours while attending a kollel. The baby was discovered only when the father lent the car to a friend, who opened the door to find the child unresponsive. Paramedics tried to revive him at the synagogue and during transit to Schneider Children’s Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead. Dozens of onlookers prayed as the resuscitation effort failed.

Toddler — Israel

A father returned home and asked his wife where their son was—only to realize the boy had never been taken out of the car. The child had already died, and police launched an investigation in coordination with the Attorney General. Safety advocates used this case to highlight the psychological roots of such tragedies: routine disruption, fatigue, and distraction. “Put in a failsafe,” urged Before Child Safety’s director.

Toddler — Sallama, Galil, Israel

Forgotten in a closed car for nearly an hour, this child was found unconscious and taken first to a local clinic, then to Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. Despite CPR and transport, the child was pronounced dead on arrival. According to Beterem – Safe Kids Israel, he was among over 880 children forgotten or locked in cars since 2010 in Israel alone.

Chaya Shurkin — Lakewood, NJ

In a widely reported case, Chaya Shurkin left her toddler in a parked vehicle for 2.5 hours, following a miscommunication between the mother and father about who was to bring the toddler inside. A neighbor saw the child in distress and tried CPR, but the toddler died. Shurkin was charged with child endangerment.

Aliza Ruchama Schwab — Miami, FL

Aliza was pulled from the bottom of her family pool at 3½ years old. Declared brain-dead, her parents fought to keep her on life support and brought her home. For four and a half years, she remained in a semi-conscious state. Her story captured national media attention and inspired thousands to perform mitzvot in her merit.

Toddler — Jacksonville, FL

A three-year-old boy drowned in his backyard pool after slipping through a gate while his father briefly went inside. Though the pool had fencing, it was not childproof enough. Emergency services arrived, but it was too late.

Dina Avigayil Dorsky — Boca Raton, FL

Dina fell into a pool during a quiet evening at home. Hatzolah arrived quickly, but she was already in cardiac arrest. Despite rapid transport and intensive care, she passed away that night.

Moussia Zaltzman — Niagara Falls, Ontario

Daughter of Chabad Niagara leaders, Moussia was found unresponsive in her family pool. After 13 days in intensive care, she passed away. She was remembered as warm, joyful, and deeply loved by her siblings and school community.

Coral Sherry & Or Koren — Savyon, Israel

Two best friends drowned in a private pool. Investigation pointed to a malfunctioning robotic pool cleaner or chemical toxicity. Surveillance footage captured them playing moments before they stopped moving. One father mourned, “I have 50 years to miss her.”

Raphael Chaim Mayer — Miami, FL

After a near-drowning, Raphael was in ICU with a grim prognosis. His family raised funds to adapt their home for his long-term care, calling on the community for support as they fought for his life with unwavering faith.

Mindel Rivka Gross — Jackson, NJ

Mindel drowned in a pool during a family gathering. Though pulled out within 3 minutes and treated by Hatzolah, she spent 3½ weeks in the hospital before passing away. Her funeral drew hundreds and launched a wave of CPR awareness in her community.

Meir Yaacov Feldstein — Paris, France

Meir drowned in a pool while swimming. His family described him as gentle, joyful, and a light in their lives. He was buried in Jerusalem. Friends started a fund to support the family during their grief.

Refoel Berkovits — Marbella, Spain

While on vacation, Refoel fell into a holiday villa pool while playing with older children. A guest doctor attempted CPR for 30 minutes, but the boy could not be revived. The British-Jewish family brought his body back to the UK for burial.

TeamProtect.org calls on every community, every parent, every educator: let these stories move you. Let them protect the next child with layers of safety. Let them save a world.

Infant — Haifa, Israel

A six-month-old baby was forgotten in a car on Kedoshei Hashoah Street in Haifa. By the time Magen David Adom paramedics arrived, the child was unconscious and suffering from extreme heatstroke. He was evacuated to Rambam Hospital in critical condition. MDA reminded the public to always double-check the vehicle before locking it.

Two Siblings — Al-Kasom, Negev Desert, Israel

Two toddlers died after being forgotten in their father’s car in the Negev desert, where outdoor temperatures exceeded 100°F (38°C). The father, a local school teacher, had parked outside the school where he worked. By the time they were found, the siblings showed no signs of life. Medics attempted resuscitation but declared both dead at the scene. This incident followed a similar one the prior month in Ashdod, sparking a national MDA campaign against hot car fatalities.

Infant — Ashdod, Israel

In Ashdod, a baby was left inside a hot vehicle for over two hours during the summer heat. When found, he was unconscious. Paramedics transported him to the hospital, but he could not be saved. This tragedy stunned Israel and raised urgent awareness around forgotten baby syndrome — the mental slip that turns deadly.

Pool Accidents

Sholom Dovber Markel — Portersville, PA

Infant — Ashdod, Israel

Toddler — Sderot, Israel

Noa Abitbol — Beit Shemesh, Israel

Toddler — Ashdod, Israel

Infant — Elad, Israel

Toddler — Israel

Toddler — Sallama, Galil, Israel

Chaya Shurkin — Lakewood, NJ

Aliza Ruchama Schwab — Miami, FL

Toddler — Jacksonville, FL

Dina Avigayil Dorsky — Boca Raton, FL

Dina fell into a pool during a quiet evening at home. Hatzolah arrived quickly, but she was already in cardiac arrest. Despite rapid transport and intensive care, she passed away that night.

Moussia Zaltzman — Niagara Falls, Ontario

Coral Sherry & Or Koren — Savyon, Israel

Raphael Chaim Mayer — Miami, FL

Mindel Rivka Gross — Jackson, NJ

Meir Yaacov Feldstein — Paris, France

Refoel Berkovits — Marbella, Spain

TeamProtect.org calls on every community, every parent, every educator: let these stories move you. Let them protect the next child with layers of safety. Let them save a world.