**Arizona Toddler Found Alive in Hospital Morgue After Drowning Incident**
In a remarkable turn of events, an 18-month-old toddler who was initially declared dead after a drowning incident in Gilbert, Arizona, has been found alive in a hospital morgue. The incident occurred on February 8, when the child was discovered unresponsive in a pool at a residence in the Phoenix-area suburb.
According to a police report, the child's family made an urgent call to emergency services after finding him face down in the pool. First responders arrived at the scene and performed life-saving measures before transporting the child to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. Tragically, he was pronounced dead approximately one hour later, at 6:20 PM local time.
During the hospital visit, officers informed Dr. Aryan Toosi, the attending physician, that they had observed signs of life in the child. However, Dr. Toosi insisted on proceeding with the declaration of death, stating, "please do your thing and let me do my thing." He then called for a moment of silence and officially declared the time of death.
Five hours after the child was pronounced dead, a transporter from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office arrived at the hospital and discovered that the toddler was still breathing. The child was subsequently flown to another medical facility, where he received treatment and has since been released.
The police report did not contain the child's medical records, leaving some questions unanswered regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident. Dr. Toosi's attorney, Scott Holden, indicated that there are additional factual and medical details that have not yet been disclosed.
As the investigation continues, police are recommending negligence charges against the child's parents. The report noted a strong smell of marijuana at the home, which led investigators to believe that the child may have had unsupervised access to the pool at the time of the incident. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has yet to announce whether charges will be pursued.
In response to the incident, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center released a statement indicating that they are conducting a thorough review of the care provided to the child to understand what transpired and to implement changes aimed at improving patient care. The hospital described the situation as "heartbreaking" and has opted not to provide further details.
As the community grapples with the implications of this incident, it raises significant questions about safety measures around pools and the responsibilities of caregivers. The case has garnered widespread attention, highlighting the importance of vigilance in ensuring the safety of young children, particularly in environments where water is present.
Authorities are expected to continue their investigation, and updates regarding potential charges against the parents may follow as more information becomes available.