Full Breakdown
Arizona Toddler Declared Dead, Then Found Alive: Hospital Error Sparks Investigation
7/3/2026, 5:24:46 AM
Fatal Drowning and Premature Declaration of Death
On February 8 2024, 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino fell face-down in his family’s backyard pool in Gilbert, Arizona, at approximately 5:30 p.m. His parents, Alexus Fiordilino (29) and Angelo Fiordilino, performed CPR while 911 responders arrived. Vincent was transported to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where Dr. Aryan Toosi pronounced him dead at 6:20 p.m. Five and a half hours later, a hospital staff member discovered the toddler alive, breathing, inside the facility’s morgue. He was subsequently airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where imaging confirmed extensive brain injury and a small area of bruising likely to cause minor balance issues.
Background & Parental Context
The Fiordilinos reside in a $750,000 home. Police reports indicate the parents admitted to smoking cannabis in the garage on the morning of the incident; toxicology later confirmed cannabis metabolites in both parents, though no alcohol was detected. Their admission led to child-abuse charges pending review by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Key Figures & Groups
- Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino – victim, toddler.
- Alexus Fiordilino – mother, reported the child missing.
- Angelo Fiordilino – father, also reported missing child.
- Dr. Aryan Toosi – emergency-room physician who declared death.
- Mercy Gilbert Medical Center – hospital where the error occurred.
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital – facility providing subsequent care.
- Gilbert Police Department – investigators of the incident.
- Yaleen Perez – grandmother, organizer of a GoFundMe campaign.
Timeline of Events
- 5:30 p.m. – Vincent falls into pool; parents in garage.
- ~5:45 p.m. – Parents notice child missing; retrieve him from water.
- 5:50 p.m.–6:20 p.m. – CPR administered; Vincent transported to hospital.
- 6:20 p.m. – Dr. Toosi declares death; parents told to say goodbye.
- ~11:50 p.m. – Hospital staff find Vincent alive in morgue.
- Following days – MRI shows brain damage; transfer to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
- Subsequent weeks – GoFundMe launched; legal review initiated.
Data & Statistics
- Child’s age: 18 months.
- Time between drowning and declaration of death: ? 50 minutes.
- Interval between declaration and discovery alive: ? 5.5 hours.
- Hospital value of home: $750,000.
- Toxicology: cannabis positive, alcohol negative for both parents.
Official Statements & Responses
The Gilbert Police Department confirmed the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will determine final charges. A Mercy Gilbert spokesperson said the hospital is conducting a comprehensive review of care practices and emphasized patient safety as a priority. The hospital also noted privacy constraints limit discussion of specific details.
Criticism & Opposition
Police investigators highlighted the parents’ cannabis use as a factor in the incident, leading to child-abuse allegations. Medical reviewers questioned Dr. Toosi’s decision to cease CPR and pronounce death despite observed chest movement and a nurse’s claim of a pulse.
On-the-Ground Reports
Alexus Fiordilino told officers her son could not swim and always wore flotation devices. An officer reported hearing a nurse state “I have a pulse” and later hearing a “gasp” from the child in the morgue. A nurse suggested the sounds could represent agonal breathing, a reflex in severely oxygen-deprived patients.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether Vincent exhibited a pulse or genuine breathing after resuscitation. The police report cites a nurse’s pulse claim, while hospital staff attribute audible sounds to agonal breathing. The precise rationale for halting life-saving measures remains undocumented.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A hospital spokesperson previously told the Daily Mail: 'This is a heartbreaking situation.” — Hospital spokesperson
- “They are amazed by his strength and have lovingly begun calling him the miracle baby,' Yaleen concluded.” — Yaleen Perez, grandmother
What’s Next
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will decide on child-abuse charges against the parents. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center’s internal review will determine procedural failures and recommend corrective actions. Vincent remains under long-term care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, with ongoing assessments of neurological recovery.
