Arizona Mother Says Toddler Pronounced Dead After Near-Drowning Was Found Alive in Hospital Morgue

An Arizona mother, Alexus Fiordilino, says her 18-month-old son Vincent was pronounced dead at a hospital and then found alive in its morgue about five hours later. Vincent was found unresponsive and floating face down in the swimming pool at the family's home in Gilbert, Arizona, on Feb. 8. Fiordilino told ABC 15 in an interview on Monday that she said goodbye to him after he was pronounced dead. He was discovered alive when a medical examiner's transport arrived at the hospital. ABC reported that he suffered serious brain damage and will need assistance for the rest of his life. Fiordilino said a doctor, Aryan Toosi, told her that even if the boy were revived, his life would not be good because of high acidity in his blood, and that he recommended calling the time of death.

The alternative source, NewsNation, gives the shortest account, leading with the mother's quote about coming to the hospital for help and the date the boy was found in the pool. The left-leaning source, NBC News, focuses on her speaking out about the medical care her son received, citing a KPNX report. The right-leaning New York Post gives the most detail, including her quoted words, the doctor's reported statements and the boy's injuries. All three agree on the basic sequence of events.