A young child was discovered alive in a hospital morgue hours after being mistakenly declared dead by a physician following a tragic incident involving near-drowning.

The 18-month-old boy, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was found unconscious in his family’s pool in Gilbert, Arizona, during a gathering on February 8. Emergency responders arrived at 5:20 pm and swiftly transported the child to Mercy Gilbert Medical Centre. Sadly, doctors pronounced him deceased less than an hour later.

In a surprising turn of events, the child was found to be 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 currently looking into the circumstances surrounding Vincent’s near-death experience during the six-hour ordeal at the hospital. According to a police report, officers raised concerns about the initial declaration of death by Dr. Aryan Toosi, who allegedly disregarded signs of life observed by the team.

Footage from a body camera captured the moment when the child was declared dead, with Dr. Toosi requesting a moment of silence. Subsequently, a detective reported hearing what appeared to be the child gasping for air as hospital staff prepared to move him to the morgue.

Following the incident, Vincent’s parents, who were under the impression that their son had passed away, were stunned to learn that he was still alive. The medical examiner’s office transporter also confirmed the child’s continued breathing, leading to his transfer to another hospital for further treatment.

In addition to investigating the hospital’s handling of the situation, authorities are looking into the events that led to the child’s near-drowning. The Gilbert Police Department has recommended child abuse charges against the parents based on allegations of their negligence due to potential impairment from substances.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Centre conducted an internal review of the incident, expressing sorrow over the situation and committing to enhancing their care practices. Dr. Toosi’s lawyer has defended his client, citing patient confidentiality and ongoing investigations as reasons for withholding further comments.

While the child’s identity was not disclosed in official reports, his family shared their story on GoFundMe, revealing the ongoing medical care and therapy Vincent requires after avoiding severe brain damage.