Eighteen-month-old Vincent Fiordilino was mistakenly pronounced dead after a pool drowning in Gilbert, Arizona, before being discovered breathing in the hospital morgue over five hours later. His mother, Alexus Fiordilino, spoke out about the trauma and ongoing medical care.
On February 8, during a Super Bowl gathering at a family residence in Gilbert, Arizona, 18-month-old Vincent Fiordilino was found floating face down in an in-ground swimming pool. Relatives performed CPR at the home before emergency responders transported the unresponsive toddler to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.
Emergency room physician Dr. Aryan Toosi took charge of the trauma team. At 6:20 p.m., Toosi pronounced the toddler dead. But that declaration set off a chain of events that left the family grappling with profound grief, police questioning, and eventually, the astonishing discovery that the boy was still alive.
Moments in the Trauma Room and Dismissed Concerns
According to police records and family accounts, doubts about the pronouncement surfaced almost immediately. Minutes after the emergency team took over, Dr. Toosi spoke with Alexus and Angelo Fiordilino regarding their son’s condition.
He comes back, like, maybe not even five, 10 minutes later. And he’s like, yeah, so his pH levels are too high. They’re too acidic. So even if we are to bring him back, it wouldn’t be a good form of life. He’d just be suffering.
Alexus Fiordilino, via Global News
Multiple individuals, including Vincent’s mother, grandmother, and responding police officers, noted potential signs of life. Body camera footage captured an officer asking whether blood gas results had returned, to which staff responded they had not. Documents obtained by the family’s attorney indicate that those laboratory results arrived at 6:38 p.m., 18 minutes after the official time of death.
When family members hugged the boy to say goodbye, a relative reported hearing breathing sounds, but hospital staff dismissed the noises as normal. Later, as workers prepared to transfer the toddler to the hospital’s cold room, a policewoman reported hearing an audible gasp. That observation was similarly attributed to agonal breathing resulting from chest movement.
Discovery in the Hospital Morgue
Vincent was placed in the hospital morgue, where the temperature is maintained between 36 and 39 degrees. More than five hours later, a team from the medical examiner’s office arrived to collect the body.
When personnel opened the cold room, they found the 18-month-old breathing inside the morgue.
My husband and I just screamed in relief. We were praising the Lord. We were crying. To go from hearing he was gone and then finding out he isn’t gone, it’s an unexplainable feeling.
Alexus Fiordilino, via Yahoo
The boy was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for intensive care. While he survived the ordeal, medical scans showed signs of brain damage.
Family Plans Lawsuit as Police Find No Criminal Conduct
Police investigators found no probable cause for criminal conduct regarding the medical personnel. The Gilbert Police Department referred the case to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for review, though officials have not provided a timeline for a decision.
The family’s attorney, John Brewer, announced plans to file a formal complaint and lawsuit against Dr. Toosi and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. Legal representatives argue that the hours spent unassisted in the morgue contributed more to his injuries than the drowning.
He can’t swallow. He seizes up. He can’t sit up on his own or crawl.
John Brewer, attorney for the Fiordilino family, via Global News
Dignity Health, which operates Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, released a statement calling the situation heartbreaking. A communications representative cited patient privacy laws and pending litigation, stating the organization cannot comment on the specifics of the care provided.
Scott Holden, an attorney representing Dr. Toosi, offered a statement emphasizing his client’s professional background.
His commitment to delivering high-quality care has always been rooted in a desire to provide healing, safety and comfort to his community.
Scott Holden, attorney for Dr. Aryan Toosi, via Global News
A GoFundMe fundraising campaign created to assist with the toddler’s medical expenses has raised more than $24,000 toward its $28,000 goal.