Toddler Electrocuted in Hotel; Parents Battle for Justice

A family vacation in Eilat turned into a prolonged tragedy for Yair and Chali Sapir, parents of 18-month-old Guy, who was severely electrocuted in a hotel lobby about ten months ago. While touching a railing, Guy suffered a major electric shock and lost consciousness. Medical teams performed resuscitation at the scene before he was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, suffering severe brain damage.

Doctors initially struggled to determine the cause of Guy's injuries until a preliminary suspicion of electrocution arose. The father, Yair, recounted how security footage revealed a partially scorched wall lamp near a red and white caution sign that read 'Fresh Paint, Do Not Touch.' The parents realized Guy had likely touched the railing while his leg was near the lamp, completing an electrical circuit. The hotel claimed the police placed the sign to avoid alarming guests, while the parents believed it was a hotel attempt to cover up the incident.

After months in intensive care, Guy was moved to complex home care. His mother expressed her determination to care for him at home, rejecting the hospital's initial assessment of him being in a vegetative state with no rehabilitative prospects. She fought for a re-evaluation, and neurologists later determined he was in a state of low consciousness, a condition she believes is temporary.

The parents are critical of the slow pace of the police and prosecution investigation. They are frustrated by the lack of answers, especially after a forensic medicine report confirmed the electrocution. Yair Sapir also criticized the police's handling of the investigation, noting that the hotel continued to operate normally and that police stated closing the hotel was not their responsibility.

The Israel Police stated that an investigation was conducted thoroughly and professionally, with the scene secured and experts consulted. The case file was transferred to the prosecution for review. The State Prosecution confirmed the case is under review and no decision has been made yet, adding that they are working to expedite case processing despite heavy workloads and the complexity of the case.