The sudden death of Amanda Sylvester, a promising 15-year-old volleyball player, has ignited fierce scrutiny over emergency response practices in College Park, Georgia. Amanda collapsed during practice at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex, and while fire department medics arrived promptly, an ambulance was delayed for over an hour. By the time her mother rushed her to the hospital in their family van, it was too late.

City officials are grappling with questions about the lapse in care, as public anger mounts over Grady EMS’s delayed response. The service admitted that the initial call had been classified as “low acuity,” only to be upgraded later when a unit was finally dispatched. Amanda’s condition deteriorated rapidly after arriving at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she went into cardiac failure and passed away despite efforts to revive her.

Catherine Murray, the director of the Dream Chasers Volleyball Club, where Amanda was a team member, expressed outrage at what she called an “unacceptable” delay. “We’re responsible for these kids, and we need a better system to protect them,” she said, echoing sentiments shared widely across the grieving community.

The city’s response has included an investigation into the breakdown of coordination between the fire department and EMS services. College Park City Manager Dr. Emmanuel Adediran defended the actions of local emergency responders, stating that all protocols had been followed. But critics argue that the tragedy exposes systemic issues in healthcare response, particularly in cases involving youth athletes.

Meanwhile, the Dream Chasers Volleyball Club has rallied around Amanda’s family, launching a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs, legal fees, and other expenses. The fundraiser, which has so far raised nearly $13,000 of its $500,000 goal, serves as a stark reminder of the community’s collective grief and determination to prevent such tragedies in the future.