Questions are continuing to swirl around the tragic event that unfolded at a College Park volleyball practice where 15-year-old Amanda Sylvester tragically collapsed and later died. Grady EMS provided a timeline suggesting there were conflicting reports regarding the urgency of the situation. However, Catherine Murray, the owner of the Dream Chasers volleyball club, insists that despite efforts by coaches and rec center staff to get Sylvester the help she needed, an ambulance was not dispatched in a timely manner, as reported by Atlanta News First.
Last Thursday, Emergency responders from College Park Fire Rescue were able to quickly show up at the scene after the initial 911 call was placed just after 6 p.m. According to the city, paramedics provided immediate care, as Sylvester was supposedly alert and speaking at that time. But in a conflicting account, Murray stated that Sylvester was never fully alert, as Sylvester's mother was eventually left to personally rush to transport her daughter to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding Hospital. “Amanda’s mom was not okay with taking her daughter to the hospital. She was not okay. She had no other choice. The system failed her because at that point, we put that baby’s hand in the system’s hand. We cried out for help and the mom had to take care of it by herself,” Murray told Atlanta News First.
Grady EMS responded to the situation by clarifying that they initially categorized the call as 'low acuity' due to the information they had received, which according to them did not indicate an immediate life-threatening emergency. They have stated that this decision was in line with standard protocols designed to efficiently prioritize emergency resources. "Upon receiving the initial call, our team assessed the situation based on the limited information the College Park communications center provided," Grady EMS said in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. Their statement suggests that an ambulance was dispatched promptly after the situation was upgraded to high acuity, following a second 911 call that provided more details about Sylvester's medical condition.
By the time Grady EMS's ambulance had arrived, it was already too late; Sylvester had been transported by her mother to the hospital, where she later suffered cardiac failure and passed away despite medical staff efforts to revive her. Grady EMS has committed to working collaboratively to better their response efforts, reiterating "We understand the concerns that can arise during emergencies, and we want to reassure the public that the safety and well-being of the communities we serve is always our top priority," as per their statement to FOX 5 Atlanta. Meanwhile, Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, College Park’s city manager, expressed his deep sorrow over the loss and commended the quick actions of the staff and coaches present at the time of the incident.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office is set to conduct a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of Sylvester's death.
