Arizona Toddler Declared Dead in Hospital but Found Alive in Morgue

On 8 February, an 18‑month‑old boy was found face‑down in a private pool in Gilbert, Arizona, during the Super Bowl. Police were called within minutes, and the child was transported to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 18:20.

Police later received a report from the hospital that Dr. Aryan Toosi had seen signs of life and had performed life‑saving measures. The physician’s statement in the report—"please do your thing and let me do my thing"—has sparked questions about the accuracy of the death declaration.

Five hours later, a transport officer from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived at the hospital’s cold room and found the child still breathing. The boy was flown to a different hospital, recovered, and has since been released.

Medical records were not released, leaving uncertainty about what happened during those critical hours. The hospital stated, "We have conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care," but declined to provide further details.

Police are recommending negligence charges against the parents. Investigators noted a strong marijuana odor at the home, suggesting the child may have had unsupervised access to the pool. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has not yet announced whether charges will be filed.

Images: The attached photo shows the exterior of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, the facility where the events unfolded.">