2-week-old child dies after going into cardiac arrest on Coquihalla Highway

RCMP say a two-week-old baby did not survive going into cardiac arrest on the Coquihalla Highway on his way to B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver Monday.

"You know, our heart really goes out to them. It's just such a horrible thing that happened," said Merritt RCMP Sgt. Norm Flemming.

The family was driving from Vernon to Vancouver when the infant went into cardiac arrest in the middle of the afternoon, just south of Merritt.

The Coquihalla Highway was temporarily shut down in both directions so an air ambulance could reach the child, but he died before reaching Kamloops' Royal Inland Hospital.

"We became involved to help hold the highway open so that an air ambulance could come and pick up the family and get them to emergency care. Unfortunately the young fellow didn't make it," said Flemming.

The reason for the child suffering cardiac arrest is not known at this time. The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating.