A paramedic has been left inconsolable after his "beautiful" baby son was found dead in his cot on Christmas Eve.
Tom Houghton and Carly Bonaito are "trying to keep it together" after they found their six-month-old baby Louie unresponsive at 8am.
Friend Rheannon Sheeran, 27, described how Carly had settled the baby after he started crying in their Sheffield home at about 6:30am.
But when she then went to feed him less than two hours later he could not be woken.
Distraught partner Tom - who was in bed at the time after working a night shift - started CPR on Louie straight away.
Paramedics continued to try and resuscitate the child as they rushed him to Sheffield Children's Hospital - however he was sadly later pronounced dead.
The baby was said to have given the couple "unimaginable joy" during lockdown after being born in June.
Nurse Rheannon told how Tom, 28, and Carly, 24, were "trying to keep it together" for their three children, Macey, 4, Alfie, 3, and George, 1.
Louie - who was "obsessed" with YouTube character Dancing Pineapple - was described as a "sweet, contented baby".
She described how Alfie had asked to keep his curtains open every night since Louie's death so he could "see him in the sky".
Rheannon said: "They tried to do as best they could on Christmas Day but Tom was inconsolable at times - he was just crying his eyes out.
"When it actually hit Carly she was shaking uncontrollably. Despite paramedics' best efforts Louie was pronounced dead at Sheffield Children's Hospital.
"They have a good support network and they're handling it well, considering what they're going through.
"But for this to happen at Christmas just makes it a lot worse - it's going to ruin Christmas for the rest of their lives."
"Adorable" baby boy Louie was born at Royal Hallamshire Hospital on June 3, 2020.
Rheannon said: "He had definitely found his little voice box and was just making the most incredible little sounds - he was absolutely perfect."
Rheannon has started an online fundraising campaign to support Tom and Carly as they grieve for their lost boy.
