An 18-month-old boy in Arizona who was declared dead by a doctor earlier this year was discovered alive hours later in the hospital's morgue, according to police reports and videos obtained by Phoenix news outlets. The incident occurred on Feb. 8, 2026, at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Gilbert, Arizona.
Toddler Found in Pool, Declared Dead
The toddler, identified as Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was rushed to the hospital after being found face down in the family's swimming pool around 5:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. Officers accompanied the family to the hospital, where doctors and nurses performed lifesaving measures on the seemingly lifeless child.
Less than an hour after the toddler was found in the pool, a doctor declared the child dead at approximately 6:20 p.m. “If there’s no objections, I’d like to call time of death,” the doctor is heard saying on a police officer’s body-worn camera video, according to NBC affiliate KPNX. “Time of death 18:20. Moment of silence.”
Parents and Officers Reported Signs of Life
Before the determination of death was made, the boy’s parents and officers said they saw the child was still breathing and gasping for air, and expressed their concerns to the doctor. “I have a pulse,” one nurse said, but that was dismissed by the doctor. The officer noted that the child continued to show signs of life. “The release of air was audible and visible,” the officer wrote, later adding, “It also began to sound like (redacted) was gasping for air.”
The doctor ultimately dismissed everyone’s concerns. “(The doctor) arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing,” the police report said, according to ABC affiliate KNXV. Another nurse explained it was agonal breathing, which is characterized by involuntary gasping or snorting.
Child Transported to Morgue, Still Showing Signs of Life
The police report said the child was transported to the hospital’s “cold room,” also considered to be the morgue, an hour later where police continued to document signs of life. “I again observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release, which was now almost an hour later,” the officer wrote, as well as “another audible gasp.”
According to the police report, at close to midnight, the medical examiner arrived and found the toddler was breathing inside the hospital morgue. The boy was then flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Toddler Suffered Brain Damage, Expected to Need Lifelong Care
An MRI scan found the boy suffered brain damage and he was expected to live but would need lifelong care. “This is a heartbreaking situation,” a spokesperson for Mercy Gilbert said in a statement to the news outlets. “We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care. Out of respect for the patient’s privacy, we cannot discuss details. We continue to work with the family and their representative. Patient safety and exceptional care is our highest priority.”
Family Launches GoFundMe for Medical Expenses
A GoFundMe set up to raise funds to help the family with medical bills explains that the toddler – identified as Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino – still faces “a long and challenging recovery.” “As of Friday, Vincent is breathing on his own with the assistance of a ventilator while his lungs continue to heal,” the GoFundMe page states. “Doctors are taking things slowly, allowing Vincent’s body to guide the pace of his recovery. They are amazed by his strength and have lovingly begun calling him ‘the miracle baby.'”
“The Fiordilino family is overwhelmed with gratitude – but also with medical expenses that are far beyond what they can manage alone. Between emergency care, air transport, ICU treatment, MRIs, organ support, and the long-term therapy ahead, the financial burden is immense. This GoFundMe has been created to help ease that burden so the family can focus on what matters most: supporting Vincent as he continues to defy the odds.” The GoFundMe has so far raised just over US$15,000.
