A young child was discovered alive in a hospital morgue several hours after being mistakenly declared dead by a physician following a near-drowning in a swimming pool incident.
The 18-month-old boy, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was found unconscious in his family’s pool in Gilbert, Arizona, during a Super Bowl gathering on February 8. Emergency responders quickly transported him to Mercy Gilbert Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
In a surprising turn of events, it was later discovered that the child was still breathing while inside the hospital morgue. He was promptly airlifted to another medical facility for urgent care and has since been discharged.
Authorities from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and the handling of Vincent’s case by medical staff. Concerns were raised about the decision to declare the child dead, with police officers noting signs of life that were allegedly dismissed by the attending physician, Dr. Aryan Toosi.
Body camera footage captured the moment when the boy was declared dead, despite potential signs of life. Subsequently, a transporter from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived to collect the child’s body, only to find that he was still alive.
The Gilbert Police Department has recommended child abuse charges against the boy’s parents, as it is believed they were unaware of his presence near the pool, possibly due to being under the influence of substances. The medical center where the incident occurred conducted an internal investigation into the matter.
Dr. Toosi’s lawyer has defended his client, stating that there is more to the case than what has been reported, citing patient confidentiality as a reason for withholding further details. The family has shared their story through a GoFundMe page, revealing that Vincent is currently receiving medical treatment and therapy for his condition.