- Vincent was found floating face down in his family’s swimming pool, and efforts to revive him through CPR failed
- With doctors concluding that the 18-month-old could not be saved, he was declared dead at around 6:20 pm
- Nearly five hours later, hospital staff arrived to collect the child’s body, but what happened next left everyone stunned
An 18-month-old Arizona boy who was pronounced dead after a near-drowning incident stunned hospital staff and investigators when he was later discovered breathing in a morgue more than five hours after his death had been declared.
Source: UGC
Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino’s case has sparked investigations into the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s near-drowning and the medical decisions made after he was taken to hospital.
While the child ultimately survived and has since been discharged from the hospital, questions remain about how he came to be declared dead while still showing signs of life.
A family’s nightmare
Read also
Mombasa: Woman shattered after husband is allegedly stabbed to death at work, body found in toilet
The incident unfolded on the evening of Super Bowl Sunday, when Vincent was found floating face down in his family’s swimming pool.
According to a police report, a frantic emergency call was made at around 5:38 pm. after relatives discovered the toddler and attempted to revive him through CPR before paramedics arrived.
He was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Centre, where emergency room staff took over life-saving efforts.
However, just over half an hour later, doctors concluded that the child could not be saved. At approximately 6:20 p.m., Vincent was officially pronounced dead.
For his family, it appeared to be the devastating end of a young life.
Concerns over signs of life
Yet almost immediately, some of those present began noticing what they believed were signs that the toddler was still breathing.
According to the police report, family members and officers at the hospital observed the child making movements that resembled gasps even after he had been declared dead.
A detective reportedly heard another audible gasp at around 7:18 p.m. as hospital staff prepared to transfer the boy to a refrigerated room used as a morgue.
Read also
DRC Congo manager Sebastian Desabre mourns loss of his father after his team’s loss to England
When concerns were raised, hospital staff allegedly explained that the movements were “agonal breathing”: involuntary gasping that can occur after death.
The detective later reported witnessing similar movements again while photographing the body. Shortly afterwards, the morgue door was closed.
Astonishing discovery in the morgue
More than four hours later, at 11:52 p.m., a medical examiner’s team arrived to collect the child’s body. What happened next left everyone stunned.
Instead of preparing to transport a deceased child, they found Vincent breathing. The family was informed immediately, and the toddler was airlifted for emergency treatment.
The extraordinary discovery transformed what had been a tragedy into a story of survival.
According to a crowdfunding page established by relatives, Vincent has avoided severe brain damage, although he continues to require extensive therapy and ongoing medical monitoring.
He is reportedly breathing with the support of a ventilator.
Questions over hospital’s response
The police report identifies the emergency room doctor who pronounced the child dead as Dr A Toosi.
According to the report, a police officer questioned the doctor’s decision after noticing what appeared to be continued breathing. The report alleges that when challenged, the doctor responded:
Read also
Father heartbroken as 18-month-old son dies in locked car after he forgot to drop him at daycare
“Please do your thing and let me do my thing. I went to medical school for a reason.”
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has confirmed that it conducted an internal investigation into what it described as a “heartbreaking situation”.
However, the hospital has not publicly disclosed its findings or commented on whether the doctor involved remains on staff.
A lawyer representing the physician said there is “much more to this case, both factually and medically, than has been reported thus far”, but declined to provide further details.
Parents also face scrutiny
While the hospital’s actions are under examination, investigators are also focusing on the circumstances that led to the near-drowning.
According to a police report, investigators believe the parents may not have realised their son had wandered to the swimming pool because their judgement may have been impaired.
For now, Vincent’s survival remains at the centre of a case that has captivated public attention.
What began as a devastating drowning incident evolved into an extraordinary medical mystery after a toddler believed to have died was discovered alive in a hospital morgue hours later.
Read also
Kohen Wiley: Grieving mother stirs confusion after posing with cash over 1-year-old son’s grave
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
