8-year-old child dies after suffering medical emergency on flight heading to Chicago

PEORIA, Ill. (WEEK/Gray News) - Authorities in Illinois say a child has died after suffering a medical emergency during a flight traveling to Chicago.

According to the Peoria County coroner’s office, an 8-year-old girl was pronounced dead after a medical emergency forced a Chicago-bound plane to divert to Peoria on Thursday morning.

Peoria County authorities identified the child as Sydney Weston, of Missouri.

She was reportedly traveling with her family for a vacation when she suddenly became ill and then unresponsive during the flight.

The child’s family immediately told flight personnel about her condition, and they began rendering aid, authorities said.

When the plane landed, Sydney was not breathing and had no pulse.

First responders immediately began life-saving measures, and the young girl was taken to a nearby hospital.

But despite resuscitation efforts, the 8-year-old was pronounced deceased.

The coroner’s office said an autopsy was inconclusive but no foul play or abuse is suspected.

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