A tragic incident in College Park, Georgia, has raised serious concerns about emergency response times after 15-year-old athlete Amanda Sylvester collapsed during volleyball practice and died after an over-hour-long delay in ambulance care.
Amanda, an African American student-athlete with the Dream Chasers Volleyball Club, collapsed while warming up at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex.
According to Atlanta News First, emergency responders from the College Park Fire Department were quick to arrive, tending to Amanda while she was still conscious and able to speak.
However, despite multiple requests, Grady EMS did not send an ambulance to the scene, resulting in a fatal delay.
After waiting over an hour, Amanda’s mother made the decision to transport her daughter to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in their own van.
Unfortunately, Amanda went into cardiac arrest on the way and was revived once at the hospital. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, Amanda tragically passed away.
Catherine Murray, director of Dream Chasers Volleyball Club, voiced her frustration over the delay, calling it “unacceptable” and stressing the importance of a swift emergency response when young lives are at stake.
“We have precious lives in our hands, and we’re responsible for these precious lives,” Murray stated. “We have to have a better network and system to protect these kids.”
City officials, including Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, the city manager of College Park, have launched an investigation into why an ambulance was not dispatched promptly to provide vital care and transport.
“We are all devastated by this tragic loss of life at such a young age,” said Dr. Adediran. “Our Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department staff, College Park Fire Rescue, as well as the volleyball club coaches, parents, and staff followed all protocols related to an injury or health care distress.”
In response to the incident, Grady EMS explained that the initial call was categorized as “low acuity,” meaning it was deemed not urgent enough for an immediate ambulance response.
The situation was later updated, and an ambulance was dispatched. However, by the time the unit was en route, Amanda had already been transported to the hospital.
As the community mourns, the Dream Chasers Volleyball Club has started a GoFundMe campaign to support Amanda’s family with funeral expenses, legal fees, and other needs.
The campaign has raised nearly $13,000 of its $500,000 goal, showing the community’s outpouring of support during this heartbreaking time.
