A young child in Gilbert, Arizona, was mistakenly declared deceased and remained in a hospital morgue for several hours before staff discovered he was still alive. The incident, which occurred on February 8, has been detailed in newly released police records and body-worn camera footage.
According to the Gilbert Police Department, the toddler was discovered face down in a backyard swimming pool around 5:30 p.m. on the day of the Super Bowl. Officers transported the child to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where medical staff initiated emergency life-saving measures. Despite these efforts, a physician at the hospital declared the child dead at approximately 6:20 p.m.
Body-worn camera video from the scene captures the doctor announcing the time of death and calling for a moment of silence. However, multiple individuals present, including police officers and the child’s parents, reported hearing sounds that suggested the child was still breathing. One officer described the noise as gasping for air, while a nurse present at the time characterized the sound as agonal breathing rather than true respiration.
Approximately an hour after the death declaration, the child was moved to the hospital morgue. Police reports indicate that signs of life were still visible at that time. A transporter from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed the child was breathing. The toddler was subsequently transferred to a different medical facility.
Gilbert is about 11 miles northwest of Queen Creek.
