Vincent Fiordilino Found Alive in Morgue After Being Declared Dead

It looks like he is breathing, a family member said before an 18-month-old Arizona boy was found alive in a morgue more than five hours later

Vincent Fiordilino was declared dead at 6:20 p.m. on February 8, 2026, at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after being pulled from a family swimming pool during a Super Bowl gathering, according to source articles. More than five hours later, medical examiner personnel discovered the toddler alive in the morgue at 11:50 p.m.

The boy had been transported to the hospital unconscious and face down, where medical staff administered cardiac massage. Dr. Aryan Toosi determined that blood tests showed critical acidosis and concluded that resuscitation was no longer possible, as reported. Shortly after the pronouncement, an extended family member approached the child’s body.

My mother-in-law was there, she walked over and picked him up in her arms, and she said, but it looks like he is breathing… Alexus Fiordilino recounted to local station ABC15, as noted. The medical team present attributed the movement to post-mortem reflexes.

Disputed blood gas test results and a developing legal battle

The family has initiated legal action over the incident, pointing to discrepancies in medical documentation. According to the family’s attorney, the physician relied on a blood gas test to declare death. Documents cited by ABC15 indicate those test results were not available until 18 minutes after the official time of death, at 6:38 p.m.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing medical privacy regulations. The oversight has left the 18-month-old with severe brain injuries that will require lifelong medical care.

We don’t really know how he’s going to grow up. The hospital and the doctors need to fix this injustice toward my child, Alexus Fiordilino said, describing the distress of believing she had said goodbye to her son while he remained unattended in the morgue.

Investigation into emergency room procedures continues

The case has drawn scrutiny regarding emergency assessment protocols following near-drowning incidents. Authorities and medical oversight bodies continue to examine the timeline of events between the initial pronouncement at 6:20 p.m. and the discovery of vital signs in the morgue nearly six hours later.