Family sues Grady EMS after teen's death amid ambulance shortage crisis

A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been filed against Grady Hospital Corporation and Grady EMS. It follows the death of 15-year-old Mandy Sylvester, who suffered a medical emergency during volleyball practice in December 2024. Her family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, alleges critical failures in emergency response contributed to her death. The emergency began at approximately 6:09 p.m. when a 911 call was made for Mandy Sylvester. At that moment, Grady EMS was operating at 'level zero', meaning no ambulances were available to respond. The lawsuit claims callers were not told about the shortage until a second 911 call was placed over 20 minutes later.

With no ambulance arriving, Mandy’s mother, Barbara Sylvester, drove her daughter to the hospital herself. During the journey, Mandy experienced seizures and other severe complications. The lawsuit also alleges that Grady EMS failed to request mutual aid from other services when their own resources were unavailable.

Grady Hospital has stated they will respond through the legal process, citing federal and state privacy laws. The lawsuit seeks justice for Mandy Sylvester while raising concerns about ambulance availability across Fulton County. The case highlights delays in emergency services that may have played a role in Mandy Sylvester’s death. It also underscores wider issues with ambulance shortages in the region. The legal action aims to address these failures and prevent similar incidents in the future.