Local
Gilbert family seeks answers after toddler was mistakenly declared dead
An 18-month-old boy was taken to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after a pool accident in February 2026, then found alive in the hospital morgue after being pronounced dead. His mother, Alexus Fiordilino, has publicly questioned the emergency room doctor’s decisions that day.
GILBERT, Ariz. — Alexus Fiordilino is seeking answers about how her 18-month-old son came to be pronounced dead at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and later found alive in the hospital morgue.
The toddler fell into the family’s pool in February 2026 and was transported by ambulance to the hospital, according to records and reporting about the incident. The child was declared dead “in error,” then discovered alive in the morgue.
Fiordilino sat for her first interview about the case in October, raising questions about the emergency room doctor’s decisions. The family’s concerns focus on what happened during the hospital response, though details of the doctor’s actions and the sequence of events were not provided in the available information.
Police body-camera footage, reports and medical records have been reviewed as part of the investigation into the case. The toddler’s recovery has also been a subject of follow-up reporting, but no specific details about his condition were available.
The incident raises serious questions about how the child’s condition was assessed and how the mistaken declaration was allowed to happen. No information was provided about disciplinary action, a formal medical review or any legal proceedings.