#trending: 9-month-old baby in Malaysia dies on bus en route to a hospital 6 hours away

SARAWAK, MALAYSIA — A video of a mother in Malaysia cradling her lifeless baby that had just died on a bus while en route to seek medical treatment has gone viral, tugging at the heartstrings of online users.

The woman was reportedly taking her ailing nine-month-old baby from the small town of Julau in Sarawak to a hospital located six hours away in Kuching when the infant was discovered to have stopped breathing at a rest stop along the way.

The baby’s cause of death is unclear.

A video of the unfortunate incident, which took place on Monday (Dec 5), was shared by a fellow passenger named Jessa Bandang on Facebook.

In the widely circulated clip, the unidentified mother wore a calm expression as she caressed and kissed her baby’s head. A few people can be seen surrounding her as if to offer comfort for her tragic loss.

The video has since gone viral in Malaysia, with more than 1.1 million views and close to 7,000 shares. Its comment section was flooded with words of sympathy and condolences by online users.

Many expressed admiration for the woman’s strength, while others prayed that she would accept the loss of her child with patience.

One user wrote: “Rest in peace, baby. I feel saddened looking at the mother. She looks so calm. Stay strong, sister, God loves your child more. I understand that feeling of loss well.”

A number of online users questioned why there were no hospitals closer to where the family lived.

The Rakyat Post reported that hospitals are available in Sarikai, located about a 50-minute drive away from Julau.

Various Malaysian media reported that a village leader who happened to be at the scene then offered to take the mother and child to a medical centre. He also gave the woman RM300 (S$92) to cover her expenses for the journey home.