An eight-year-old girl collapsed and died in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Atta, apparently after breathing in helium from a balloon.

Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics were called to an address in the city, which is just east of Haifa, after reports a young girl had collapsed in her home.

Paramedics who arrived at the scene attempted to revive the young girl, but were tragically forced to declare her death shortly after arriving. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

MDA paramedic Raz Diamond, who was among the first to attend the scene, said that as a father himself the scene was a particularly difficult one.

“The girl was found collapsed, with no signs of life life. Despite that we performed advanced resuscitation techniques, but she continued to be unresponsive, and in the end with great pain we were forced to declare her death at the scene.”