Miracle Baby Found Alive in Morgue
An 18-month-old boy declared dead after being pulled from a swimming pool was discovered breathing in a hospital morgue nearly six hours later, according to a new police report. The toddler, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, has been nicknamed the 'Miracle baby' after the incident at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Arizona on February 8.
The boy was found unresponsive in a pool during a Super Bowl gathering in a Phoenix neighborhood. He was rushed to the hospital, where medical professionals attempted resuscitation but eventually declared him dead. However, a medical transporter later found Vincent breathing in the cold morgue room, and he was airlifted to a children's hospital.
Parents and Officers Raised Concerns
The police report reveals that Vincent's parents insisted their son was still 'gasping for air' but were ignored. Two police officers at the hospital and a nurse also questioned whether the boy was breathing. One officer reported hearing an 'audible gasp' and informed hospital staff, who labeled it 'agonal breathing'—a reflex action as gases and air leave the body.
Moments before Dr. A. Toosi declared Vincent dead, an officer claimed to hear a nurse say 'I have a pulse.' When the officer informed the doctor, he allegedly responded 'arrogantly' that 'he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.' Dr. Toosi later apologized for his behavior, according to the report.
Timeline of Events
Vincent was found in the pool at 6:20 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday and was discovered alive in the morgue at 11:52 p.m., leaving an almost six-hour gap. The boy's medical records have been redacted, leaving it unclear what happened after he was brought into the hospital.
After being found alive, Vincent faced a long road to recovery, including ICU care, MRIs, organ support, and therapy, according to a fundraiser started in February. The family's attorney stated that Vincent, now 22 months old, will need 'lifelong care.'
Hospital and Legal Response
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center said it has conducted its own internal investigation into the incident. It did not respond to requests about whether Dr. Toosi is still employed there. Dr. Toosi's attorney, Scott Holden, cited possible legal action against the parents and patient confidentiality, stating 'there is much more to this case, both factually and medically, than has been reported thus far.'
The police report also alleges that after the parents smoked cannabis, they failed to secure garage doors, allowing Vincent to access the pool, and that they did not properly supervise him. The house was full of adults who 'collectively stated that each believed another adult was watching him,' the report says. The county attorney's office is reviewing the case, and no decision has been made regarding charging the parents.
