The 15-year-old collapsed while warming up with her volleyball team, the Dream Chasers Volleyball Club, on December 5, 2024. First responders from the College Park Fire Department and other emergency services provided immediate assistance to the teenager, who was conscious at the time.
However, for over an hour, an ambulance from Grady Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reportedly did not arrive despite multiple calls. The teen was eventually transported by her mother to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she experienced cardiac failure. Although she was briefly revived, she later passed away.
Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, College Park’s city manager, emphasized that the Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, College Park Fire Rescue, and volleyball club coaches, parents, and staff followed all protocols for handling health emergencies. He also mourned the demise of Sylvester, “We are all devastated by this tragic loss of life at such a young age.”
City officials are investigating the failure of the ambulance to arrive and provide further trauma care and transportation. They also penned in their condolences, “Our deepest and heartfelt sympathies go out to the young woman’s family, friends, and teammates.”
Grady EMS has said in a statement that the initial call to them was categorized as low severity and managed by a College Park Fire unit equipped to provide care and transport. Nevertheless, after an update, the call was escalated, and a Grady EMS unit was dispatched.
The services added, “However, as our unit was en route, College Park Fire determined that additional EMS support was no longer needed due to the patient being transported to the hospital via personal vehicle. “
As per a 2022 investigation, Grady EMS’s average response times for critical calls ranged from 22 to 29 minutes, while non-urgent calls often took 46 to 89 minutes.
Furthermore, in 2023, a former College Park Fire Department chief highlighted that outdated regulations governing ambulance services contribute to delays. The delays make paramedics and patients like Sylvester wait, sometimes up to an hour, for state-authorized transport from Grady EMS.
The team posted a GoFundMe link to ask people to support Sylvester and her family during this difficult time. They shared, “Amanda was more than just a player—she was family to us. When Amanda needed support the most, help never came. We are determined to stand in the gap and ensure her story is heard. We will not let her loss be in vain.”
“Together, we can honor Amanda’s memory and work to ensure no other young athlete or family has to endure such a tragedy. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time,” the club noted.
