On Super Bowl Sunday, a tragic event unfolded in Arizona involving a toddler, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino. At around 6:20 p.m., the child was declared deceased at an emergency room. In a shocking turn, at 11:52 p.m., Vincent was discovered breathing in the hospital morgue.
The incident is being investigated by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The situation began with an 18-month-old nearly drowning in the family pool. Local authorities are looking into the circumstances that led to this near-drowning.
According to a statement from the city of Gilbert Police Department, Vincent survived and was released from the hospital. However, they recommended that charges of child abuse be filed against his parents. A police report, obtained by NBC affiliate KPNX, suggests that the parents might not have noticed their son heading to the pool due to the influence of substances.
“Both admitted to smoking marijuana the morning of the drowning,” the report details. A spokesperson for the county attorney has not commented on the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center conducted an internal investigation, labeling the situation as emotionally distressing. The hospital did not release the results or comment on the employment status of the doctor involved.
“Please do your thing and let me do my thing,” Dr. A. Toosi reportedly stated when questioned about his pronouncement decision.
The parents have set up a crowdfunding page to cover Vincent’s medical expenses. According to the page, Vincent requires a ventilator for breathing and ongoing therapy, although he avoided significant brain damage.
The sequence of events began on February 8 at 5:38 p.m. with a 911 call, as Vincent was found face down in the pool. A relative’s CPR efforts preceded his rushed transport to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.
At the hospital, Dr. Toosi and his team worked to save Vincent. The police report highlights a moment at 6:13 p.m. when Dr. Toosi allegedly checked the time before informing the parents of the child’s state.
A confrontation occurred between Dr. Toosi and a police officer regarding the time of death, officially called at 6:20 p.m., despite signs of life observed by those present, including audible gasps.
Records show that at 7:18 p.m., further signs of breathing were noted as the child was moved to the hospital’s cold room, with temperatures between 36 and 39 degrees.
More than four hours later, the medical examiner’s team discovered Vincent breathing again. He was immediately airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to receive further care.