An 18 month old boy in Arizona was found alive hours after doctors declared him dead following a reported drowning incident. The shocking case has raised questions about the medical response and the events that happened inside the hospital.
Toddler Found Unresponsive in Family Pool
The incident happened on 8 February at a home in Gilbert, a suburb near Phoenix, Arizona. The child’s family was gathered to watch the NFL Super Bowl game when they discovered the toddler face down in the swimming pool.
Family members immediately called emergency services. First responders arrived and started life saving treatment before taking the child to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.
Doctors later declared the toddler dead at 18:20, about an hour after he reached the hospital.
Child Found Breathing Inside Hospital Cold Room
According to a police report, officers told hospital staff that they had noticed possible signs of life while treating the child. The report states that the attending doctor, Aryan Toosi, responded that medical staff would continue their own procedures.
A medical examiner transport worker arrived at the hospital around five hours later and discovered that the child was still breathing in the hospital’s cold room.
The toddler was quickly transferred to another medical facility for further treatment. He later recovered and was released from the hospital.
Investigation Raises Questions About Medical Care
The police report did not include the child’s complete medical records, leaving some details unclear about what happened during treatment.
The doctor’s lawyer said there are additional medical and factual details that have not yet been made public.
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center said it completed a detailed review of the incident. The hospital described the situation as heartbreaking and said it was working to improve patient care procedures.
Police Recommend Possible Charges Against Parents
Investigators are also looking into the circumstances surrounding the pool accident. Police recommended negligence charges against the child’s parents.
Authorities said officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana at the home, which led them to investigate whether the child had been left without proper supervision near the pool.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has not announced whether it will move forward with charges.
The case remains under investigation as officials continue reviewing both the medical response and the events that led to the drowning incident.
