GILBERT — An 18-month-old toddler, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was found breathing in a hospital morgue on February 8, 2026, hours after being pronounced dead at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. He was subsequently airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for specialized care.

The incident began at approximately 5:38 p.m. on February 8 when a 911 call reported that Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino was found floating face down in a family pool in Gilbert, Arizona. A relative performed CPR on him before he was transported to the emergency room at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. Dr. A. Toosi, part of the emergency room team, pronounced the child dead at approximately 6:20 p.m.

Police officers and the child's parents reported that Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino appeared to gasp for breath after the death declaration. A Gilbert police officer questioned Dr. Toosi's diagnosis of death. Toosi responded to a police officer, "Please do your thing and let me do your thing. I went to medical school for a reason." A detective reported hearing an audible gasp from the child at approximately 7:18 p.m. as staff prepared to move him to the morgue. A nurse indicated that these sounds were agonal breathing, which can be caused by compressions, oxygen, and pressure from family members. The hospital morgue door was closed with Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino inside at 7:23 p.m.

At 11:52 p.m. on the same day, the medical examiner's team located Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino breathing in the morgue, where temperatures are maintained between 36 and 39 degrees. The Gilbert Police Department later stated that Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino survived and was released from the hospital. However, a crowdfunding page established by his family indicates he requires a ventilator for breathing assistance, avoided serious brain damage, and needs ongoing medical monitoring and extensive therapy. His parents admitted to smoking marijuana on the morning of the incident, according to a police report.

The Gilbert Police Department has recommended to the Maricopa County Attorney that Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino's parents face child abuse charges. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center conducted an internal investigation and described the situation as "heartbreaking" in a statement.