Family sues Grady EMS after teen's death linked to ambulance delays

A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been filed against Grady Hospital Corporation and Grady EMS. The legal action follows the death of 15-year-old Mandy Sylvester, who suffered a medical emergency during volleyball practice in December 2024. Her family alleges that delays in ambulance services played a critical role in the tragedy. Mandy Sylvester collapsed during practice and experienced seizures and other complications. Her mother, Barbara Sylvester, was forced to drive her to the hospital herself after no ambulance arrived. The first 911 call revealed that Grady EMS was at 'level zero', meaning no ambulances were available at the time.

The lawsuit claims callers were not told about the shortage until a second 911 call was made over 20 minutes later. It also alleges that Grady EMS failed to follow Georgia law by not requesting mutual aid or notifying emergency personnel and the family about the unavailability. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and his team are representing the Sylvester family in the case.

Grady Hospital has stated it will respond through the legal process but cannot comment further due to privacy laws. The lawsuit seeks justice for Mandy Sylvester and highlights wider concerns about ambulance availability in Fulton County. The case raises serious questions about emergency response protocols in the region. The Sylvester family hopes the legal action will bring accountability and prevent similar incidents. Grady EMS and Grady Hospital Corporation will address the allegations in court.