Arizona Toddler Rescued and Recovered After Hospital Misidentification of Death

Mon Sep 14 2026 14:25:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A toddler declared dead after a suspected drowning was found alive in the morgue’s cold room, sparking questions about hospital protocols and potential negligence.

An 18‑month‑old boy in Gilbert, Arizona, was declared dead by Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after a water‑related incident. A police report later revealed that hospital staff discovered him alive in the cold room. A transport from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office entered the hospital five hours later and noted the child was breathing. The situation led to investigations into potential negligence and highlighted alleged procedural failures.

Arizona Toddler Rescued and Recovered After Hospital Misidentification of Death

A 18‑month‑old boy was found face‑down in a private pool in Gilbert on 8 February and taken to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center where he was declared dead an hour later.

Reports from the after‑action police briefing show that emergency responders had found signs of life. The doctor on the scene, Dr Aryan Toosi, was told by officers that the child was moving, and he said, "please do your thing and let me do my thing." The incident was captured on officer bodycam, which NBC News obtained.

Unexpectedly, a transport vehicle from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office entered the hospital five hours after the declaration of death and indicated that the infant was still breathing. The boy was transferred to another facility where he recovered and has since been released.

Details from the police report raise questions about hospital procedures, as the body‑scan of the infant was found in the cold room instead of the gurney. The medical examiner’s office has not yet confirmed if it will press negligence charges against the parents, though it has been recommended.

The hospital stated that it would conduct a full review of the care provided to "learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care." It declined to release further details on the case.

Investigators noted a strong odor of marijuana at the property, implying unsupervised pool access by the child. Whether the parents will face legal action remains pending.