Toddler declared dead in drowning incident found alive in hospital morgue: Police report
A stunning turn of events unfolded in Arizona when a toddler, who was initially pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a pool, was discovered to be alive hours later in a hospital morgue. The incident took place on Feb. 8 during a Super Bowl gathering at a home in Gilbert, a suburb of Phoenix.
According to a police report, the 18-month-old child was found face-down in an in-ground pool and was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 6:20 p.m. However, when a transporter from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived at the hospital to retrieve the child over five hours later, he was shocked to find the child breathing.
The circumstances surrounding the toddler’s revival remain unclear as his medical records were not included in the police report. It is noted that spontaneous returns of circulation after CPR has been stopped are exceedingly rare but technically possible.
The child’s parents, as well as two officers present at the hospital, expressed doubts about the child’s condition after he was declared dead. The parents believed he was still breathing based on his gasping for air, while the officers reported witnessing similar signs.
Dr. A. Toosi, the attending physician, was criticized by the officers for his handling of the situation. Despite reports of a pulse and gasping for air, Dr. Toosi proceeded to declare the time of death and instructed the hospital staff to cease life-saving measures.
After realizing the child was actually alive, he was transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for further treatment. The child showed significant improvement following the incident but was expected to require physical therapy.
The incident has prompted a thorough review of the care provided by the hospital, with a spokesperson acknowledging the heartbreaking nature of the situation. The hospital is committed to making necessary changes to enhance patient safety and care.
The police report recommended charging the toddler’s parents with child abuse due to alleged negligence. It was alleged that after smoking marijuana, the parents failed to secure the garage doors, allowing their son access to the pool without proper supervision.
The case has been forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review, but as of now, no charging decision has been made. The child’s father’s attorneys have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
