A new tragedy has shaken the province of Santiago del Estero, in northern Argentina. A 3-year-old boy, identified as Iker Barraza Ivanoff, died during the early hours of Monday, August 17, 2026, after choking on a plastic bead from a necklace at his home in the town of Cuyoj, in the La Banda department.
What happened
According to the mother's account, Paola Jaqueline Ivanoff, 35, around 11:30 PM on Sunday, the family finished dinner and she went to her room to change clothes, leaving the little boy alone in the dining room. Minutes later, she noticed the child was having difficulty breathing and realized he had put a plastic bead in his mouth.
Her partner tried to help him with back blows, but when they couldn't get him to expel the object, they decided to take him by motorcycle to the nearest fire station. With the child in her arms, the mother rushed into the guard post, where officers found him with scant vital signs.
Key facts
- Victim: Iker Barraza Ivanoff, 3 years old
- Location: Cuyoj, La Banda, Santiago del Estero
- Incident time: ~11:30 PM Sunday, Aug 16
- Cause: Bronchoaspiration from plastic bead
- Prosecutor: Dr. Nicolás Santillán
The desperate transfer
During the transfer to the Centro Integral de Salud de La Banda (CISB), First Corporal Víctor Gerez performed resuscitation maneuvers. Upon arrival, medical staff activated the protocol and performed CPR for approximately 40 minutes, until death was declared due to bronchoaspiration.
Prosecutor Dr. Nicolás Santillán ordered interviews with firefighter personnel and a forensic examination of the body. At 1:40 AM, Dr. Carlos Terzano performed the cadaveric inspection and found no visible injuries. An autopsy was ordered to definitively confirm the cause of death, and the body was transferred to the Morgue of Hospital Independencia.
Second fatal case over the weekend
This tragic event follows another that occurred hours earlier in the Palermo neighborhood, also in La Banda, where a 15-month-old baby died after choking on a piece of meat while having dinner with family. The baby was taken in a cyanotic and hypotonic state to the Centro Provincial de Salud Infantil (Cepsi), where he died around 12:30 AM on Saturday.
Local authorities are investigating both cases and remind the public of the importance of preventing household accidents in young children, especially with small objects like beads, buttons, or high-risk foods.
Prevention tips
Experts recommend keeping small objects out of reach of children under 4, cutting food into small pieces, and learning basic first aid techniques like the Heimlich maneuver. Always supervise young children during meals and playtime.
Sources: TN, El Liberal, Cadena 3