Full Breakdown
Toddler Declared Dead at Arizona Hospital Later Found Breathing in Morgue
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Premature Declaration of Death and Subsequent Discovery
On February 8, 2026, 18-month-old Vincent Fiordilino was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after being pulled from his family’s pool. Emergency physicians, including Dr. Aryan Toosi, pronounced him dead at 6:20 p.m. Five hours later, a medical examiner’s team entered the cold-room morgue and found Vincent still breathing. He was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed severe brain injury and ongoing medical needs.
Timeline of Key Moments
- ~5:38 p.m. – 911 call after Vincent was found floating.
- 6:04 p.m. – Arrival at Mercy Gilbert.
- 6:13 p.m. – Police body-camera audio asks for arterial blood-gas results; staff report none available.
- 6:20 p.m. – Dr. Toosi declares time of death.
- 6:38 p.m. – Blood-gas results received, 18 minutes after declaration.
- 7:18 p.m. – Detective notes audible gasp as staff move the child to the cold room.
- 11:52 p.m. – Medical examiner discovers Vincent breathing; child transferred to Phoenix Children’s.
Medical Decisions Under Scrutiny
Hospital records show the arterial blood-gas test was canceled, yet the results arrived after the death declaration. The physician’s report, citing those values as justification for ending resuscitation, was not signed until the day after Vincent was found alive. The family’s attorneys argue the delayed results and premature declaration breach standard emergency care.
Official Statements & Responses
- Gilbert Police Department, Sgt. – Commented that the investigation remains open.
- Arizona Attorney General’s Office – Has not decided whether to review the case.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on handling the arterial blood-gas test. Some documents indicate the test was canceled outright; others note labs were collected at 6:11 p.m. and results arrived at 6:38 p.m. The timing of Dr. Toosi’s report signing also varies, with accounts placing it either the day after the child was found alive or earlier. These inconsistencies have fueled the family’s complaint and the pending legal review.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He ended up in the morgue,” — Alexus Fiordilino
- “As long as there are no objections, I’d like to call time of death” — Dr. Aryan Toosi (via attorney)
- “I think that man failed to do his job properly... He failed my son in every step of the way,” — Alexus Fiordilino