An 18-month-old boy who was pronounced dead after falling into a backyard pool was found alive nearly six hours later in a hospital morgue. Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino fell into the pool at his home in Gilbert, Arizona, on February 8. His father pulled him from the water and began CPR before paramedics rushed him to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.
Doctor Pronounces Toddler Dead Despite Warnings
Despite resuscitation efforts, Dr. Aryan Toosi pronounced Vincent dead at 6:20 p.m., according to newly released police documents and emergency audio made public this month. The toddler was then placed in a body bag and transferred to the hospital morgue. However, at around 11:45 p.m., a Maricopa County Medical Examiner's transporter arrived to collect the body and noticed the toddler was still breathing when opening the bag. Vincent was rushed back for emergency treatment and airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital.
Warnings Ignored Before Morgue Transfer
Newly unsealed police records allege multiple warnings were raised and ignored before Vincent was sent to the morgue. A registered nurse at the hospital reportedly told Dr. Toosi she could feel a pulse, according to ABC 15 Arizona. Officers at the scene also claimed they saw Vincent moving and heard him gasping or releasing air. Dr. Toosi dismissed these concerns, describing the gasps as 'agonal breathing'—reflexive breaths that can occur after death—and ordered the child to be taken to the morgue anyway.
Severe Brain Damage and Family's Legal Action
Vincent survived but suffered severe and permanent brain damage, believed to be caused by prolonged oxygen deprivation and the additional trauma of spending hours in a cold morgue while still alive, according to the Daily Mail. He is expected to need intensive, lifelong care, and his family has launched a GoFundMe appeal to cover what they describe as astronomical medical costs.
Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center confirmed it had launched a 'thorough internal review' into how the failure occurred, according to ABC 15 Arizona. However, the hospital has not said whether Dr. Toosi has been suspended, dismissed, or is still working at the facility, citing patient privacy.
