What to Know
After an Arizona couple was informed that their son, 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, died following a drowning accident at their home during Super Bowl Sunday in February 2026, they said their goodbyes. Hours later, well after the toddler had been declared dead, a medical examiner detected breathing and a faint heartbeat in the morgue.
It wasn’t a false alarm, or false hope. In the hours that followed, the family was notified and Fiordilino was treated and underwent testing relating to the breathing. Now, though, the doctor who declared the toddler dead has come into question, and there are even reports about officials witnessing alleged breathing before the boy was taken to the hospital morgue.
People want to know if the doctor was held responsible.
@nbcnews An 18-month-old boy was rushed to an Arizona hospital after being found face-down in a swimming pool in February. New police video shows how the little boy was declared dead but hours later was found breathing and alive by a medical examiner.
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According to NBC News, the medical examiner reported that the child was breathing. Prior to that, his family and even a police officer noted that they believed Fiordilino was still breathing and appeared to be gasping for air even though he had been declared dead. A report obtained by the outlet said a nurse credited the breathing to a common misunderstanding after someone is declared deceased.
“The nurse again stated it was agonal breathing and explained it was due to compressions, oxygen, and possible pressure applied by family members while saying goodbye,” the report said.
The report also said that a police officer seemingly argued with the doctor in question about his diagnosis before he officially declared the time of death. In the comments under a TikTok that NBC News posted about the accident, users questioned the doctor in charge of Fiordilino who wrongly called his time of death.
“The doctor’s not still a doctor, right?” A user commented.
Another wrote, “Did he attend TEMU UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE????”
A user also said, “doctor who earned his degree with ChatGPT.”
“Omg please tell me this is Lazarus Syndrome because if not I would be worried about the doctors credentials,” someone else commented.
Lazarus Syndrome, according to Healthline, happens when a patient’s heartbeat starts back up after CPR was administered and even after the person was declared dead. The individual might have appeared dead, but they weren’t technically dead during that time.
The parents admitted to smoking marijuana and possibly drinking the day of the drowning.
Per the police report obtained by NBC News, the toddler’s parents did admit to smoking marijuana during the day during the Super Bowl viewing and that they might have been under the influence of “other mind altering substances.” Police requested that the family be investigated and the parents charged with child abuse.
After the boy was discovered to be breathing and his heartbeat was detected, he was transferred to another hospital, where he underwent testing that determined minimal brain damage that would only reportedly affect his balance in his early years.
The toddler’s family started a GoFundMe.
Despite the miracle of the 18-month-old surviving the accidental drawing and being found to be alive hours after he was thought to be dead, his family started a GoFundMe to help with ongoing medical costs. The fundraiser calls Fiordilino a “miracle fighter” and notes that, while he is recovering, there are tons of medical costs that the family is dealing with.
“The Fiordilino family is overwhelmed with gratitude — but also with medical expenses that are far beyond what they can manage alone,” the GoFundMe says. “Between emergency care, air transport, ICU treatment, MRIs, organ support, and the long-term therapy ahead, the financial burden is immense. This GoFundMe has been created to help ease that burden so the family can focus on what matters most: supporting Vincent as he continues to defy the odds.”
As of July 2026, the GoFundMe reached more than $18,000 of its $20,000 goal.
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