Georgia teen dies after ambulance fails to arrive during volleyball practice
- Amanda Sylvester collapsed during volleyball practice and was initially responsive when evaluated by EMTs.
- The ambulance that was called did not arrive for 40 minutes, leading her mother to drive her to the hospital.
- Sylvester went into cardiac failure at the hospital and later died, prompting investigations into emergency response delays.
In College Park, Georgia, a tragic incident occurred involving a 15-year-old girl named Amanda Sylvester, a member of the Dream Chasers volleyball club. On a Thursday, while warming up for volleyball practice at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex, Sylvester collapsed. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from College Park Fire Rescue arrived within eight minutes to provide medical evaluation. Remarkably, Amanda was initially conscious, making eye contact, and conversant. However, an ambulance that had been called did not arrive for 40 minutes. During this time, Amanda's mother drove her to Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, upon arrival, Amanda went into cardiac failure and had to be revived once before she ultimately died. The incident has caused deep distress within the volleyball community and raised significant questions regarding emergency response protocols. Coach Catherine Murray of Dream Chasers Volleyball Club criticized the failure of Grady Memorial Hospital's ambulance service, calling the situation 'unacceptable.' Murray emphasized the importance of having reliable medical support, stating, 'We have precious lives in our hands, and we’re responsible for these precious lives,' which underscores the urgency of reassessing current emergency response systems. Officials from the city have committed to investigating the delay in ambulance response to understand why the standard protocols were not effectively followed in this situation. Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, the city manager of College Park, expressed sorrow over the loss of such a young life, affirming that all procedures related to health crises were supposedly adhered to by staff and emergency responders. Despite these assurances, there is growing anxiety among community members about emergency response effectiveness, especially in critical situations. Grady EMS has defended its actions by stating that the initial call was designated as low severity, and the response was reevaluated based on Amanda’s condition when EMTs were on-site. However, this perspective has not quelled community outrage or concerns about how the categorization of responses can lead to delayed assistance in life-threatening situations. Investigations have revealed that the average response times for critical calls in 2022 were between 22 and 29 minutes, while less urgent cases could see waits of between 46 and 89 minutes. These concerning statistics highlight the potential risks associated with emergency medical responses in the region, contributing to the large-scale reassessment of protocols that may follow this incident. The community is now advocating for a more robust network and improved systems to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals in similar scenarios, expressing fears that more lives could be jeopardized without reform. Overall, this incident serves as a poignant reminder about the need for immediate and effective emergency medical responses, especially in youth sports contexts where medical emergencies can arise unexpectedly.