The tragic death of a teenage girl in Georgia two years ago has seemingly been compounded by what her family believes was an unacceptable lack of response by EMS services. According to a press release dated June 18, 2026, from the family's attorney, Ben Crump, "Mandy, [age 15], collapsed while running laps at volleyball practice in College Park on Dec. 5, 2024, and sports center staff called 911 at 6:09 p.m. The complaint alleges Grady EMS, the exclusive ambulance provider for the area, had no ground ambulances available and did not seek mutual aid from other agencies."
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The lawsuit allegedly names Grady EMS and Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation because of Mandy's death.
Amanda's Mom Tried Hard To Help Her Daughter
Per People, Amanda Sylvester's mother, Barbara, waited for an ambulance to arrive for her daughter for about 45 minutes. When it did not, she reportedly rushed the teen to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "On the way, Amanda experienced seizures and other medical complications," per the outlet.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Mandy died that night. Her mother heartbreakingly said at a press conference, "In about 45 minutes, I listened to my baby be in pain, in struggle, and then when I got to the hospital, I had to drop her off because I had to go park. I couldn't stay with my baby. And by the time I got back inside, she was in cardiac arrest. I never got to talk to her, hold her, and have my child again. This has been the worst experience any mother could ever have."
The Lawsuit Allegedly States That "Mandy's Death Was Completely Preventable"
According to Saporta Report, "...Amanda died less than three hours after collapsing...." She had allegedly been doing a warm-up run in College Park at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex. Per the outlet, according to the autopsy, the teen died from "bilateral pulmonary emboli."
In the words of the lawsuit via Saporta Report, "Mandy's death was completely preventable. When we call 911 with an emergent need for ambulance transport to a hospital, we have a right to expect an ambulance to be immediately dispatched and a right to rely on that ambulance to arrive."
There Was Allegedly Disagreement About the Urgency of the Teen's Medical Situation
A spokesperson for College Park at the time, Bill Crane, reportedly told the outlet this in December 2024. He allegedly indicated that "first responders did not believe Amanda was experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency," in the outlet's words.
Per People, the Sylvesters' attorneys said that the law in Georgia states that ambulance services must ask for mutual aid if they cannot respond themselves. That allegedly did not happen.
The administration of Grady Hospital reportedly issued a statement to People. It said because of privacy laws, they are "limited" in their ability to respond to the lawsuit and the Sylvesters' claims.
The outlet states that the family's complaint claims that when calls were made to 911 for Amanda, Grady EMS had no ambulances to respond. However, the lawsuit allegedly says that those who called 911 did not know that until calling again 20 minutes after.
