A toddler in Arizona survived after doctors declared him dead and later found him breathing inside a hospital morgue. The rare case has led to several investigations. Officials are now looking into both the child’s medical care and the events that happened before he reached the hospital.
The child, 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was taken to a hospital after a pool accident on February 8. Police said a family member found him face down in the family swimming pool and quickly started CPR. Emergency workers then rushed the boy to the hospital for more treatment.
Doctors and medical staff worked to save the child after he arrived at the emergency room. According to a police report, a doctor later declared the boy dead at about 6:20 p.m. Hospital staff observed a moment of silence after the announcement.
However, several people in the room said they believed the child was still showing signs of life. Family members and police officers reported seeing the boy gasp for air even after he had been declared dead. About an hour later, while hospital workers prepared to move him to the morgue, another police detective said the child made another clear breathing sound.
At 11:52 p.m., hospital staff found the toddler breathing inside the hospital morgue. The child received emergency care again. He survived and was later released from the hospital, according to the Gilbert Police Department.
Police confirmed that Vincent’s survival is one part of an ongoing investigation. Officials are also reviewing how the child was declared dead while he was still alive. The hospital has started its own internal review, but it has not shared the findings with the public.
The hospital also declined to answer questions about the doctor involved in the case or whether the doctor is still working there. The doctor was identified in the police report as A. Toosi.
The police report said an officer questioned the doctor’s decision after noticing the child still appeared to be breathing. According to the report, the doctor defended the medical decision and told the officer to allow medical staff to handle the situation.
An attorney representing the doctor later released a short statement. The lawyer said there is more to the case than what has been made public. The statement also noted that patient privacy rules prevent a full public response at this time.
While medical investigators review the hospital’s actions, police are also examining what happened before the emergency.
The Gilbert Police Department has recommended child abuse charges against the boy’s parents. The recommendation has been sent to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether any charges should be filed.
According to the police report, investigators believe the parents may not have noticed that their son had wandered outside while they watched a game. Police also wrote that both parents admitted smoking marijuana on the morning of the pool accident. Investigators said they are reviewing whether their condition may have affected their ability to supervise the child.
The county attorney’s office has not announced any charging decision and has declined to comment while the review continues.
Vincent’s family has created an online fundraising campaign to help pay for medical expenses. The page says the toddler is receiving breathing support with a ventilator. It also says doctors believe he avoided major brain damage, although he will need close medical care and therapy during his recovery.
The family has shared only limited public comments as Vincent continues to recover. A man who answered the phone at the family’s home said he could not discuss the case.
Medical experts say drowning victims can sometimes show very weak signs of life, making emergency care difficult. For that reason, hospitals often follow careful checks before confirming death. Investigators will now review whether proper medical procedures were followed in this unusual case.
The investigations into the hospital response and the family’s actions remain active. Officials have not released a timeline for when the reviews will be completed. Vincent’s recovery continues as authorities work to determine exactly how such a rare and serious mistake happened.
