A toddler who was declared dead after being pulled from a swimming pool was later discovered alive and gasping for air in a hospital morgue, according to a police report obtained by NBC News. The 18-month-old boy, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, now nicknamed the 'Miracle baby,' was found unresponsive in a pool during a Super Bowl gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 8.
Parents' Concerns Dismissed
Vincent's grieving parents insisted they believed their son was still 'gasping for air' after he was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, but their concerns were ignored. Two police officers at the hospital and a nurse also questioned whether the boy was breathing. The report notes that officers heard an 'audible gasp' and informed hospital staff, who labeled it 'agonal breathing' — a reflex action as gases and air leave the body.
Doctor's Response Questioned
Moments before Dr. A. Toosi declared Vincent dead, one officer claimed to hear a nurse say, 'I have a pulse.' When the officer informed the doctor, he allegedly responded 'arrogantly,' saying 'he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.' Dr. Toosi then asked for another pulse check before calling the time of death. The doctor has since apologized for his behavior, according to the report.
Discovery in the Morgue
Vincent was found at 6:20 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday and declared dead, but a medical transporter discovered him breathing in the cold morgue room at 11:52 p.m. — an almost six-hour gap. He was airlifted to a children's hospital, facing a long road to recovery with ICU care, MRIs, organ support, and therapy, according to a fundraiser launched in February.
Investigation and Parental Responsibility
The police report alleges that after the parents smoked cannabis, they failed to secure garage doors, allowing Vincent to access the pool. The house was full of adults who 'collectively stated that each believed another adult was watching him,' the report says. The county attorney's office is reviewing the case, and no decision has been made regarding charging the parents. Through an attorney, the family declined to comment on a possible criminal case, adding that their son, now 22 months old, will need 'lifelong care.'
Hospital and Doctor's Response
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center said it has conducted its own internal investigation into the incident but did not respond to NBC News about whether Dr. Toosi is still employed there. Dr. Toosi's attorney, Scott Holden, stated that due to a possible case against the parents and patient confidentiality, he cannot make a full statement 'other than to assure you that there is much more to this case, both factually and medically, than has been reported thus far.'
