Amanda Sylvester Obituary, Death; – A volleyball team in Georgia organized a vigil for a teenage girl who tragically passed away shortly after collapsing during practice at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Center in College Park.
“She brought joy to my day. On difficult days, I would enter and she would welcome me with a hug,” stated coach Maya Rembert. The city of College Park shared a video showing 15-year-old Amanda Sylvester jogging with her teammates when she suddenly began to struggle.
“She began to drop to her knees, buckled, and fell to the gym floor,” explained Bill Crane, a spokesperson for College Park. “Amanda was conscious and speaking. She requested to lie down and was seated at that moment, expressing that she felt a bit dizzy.”
Amanda’s coaches provided assistance while the recreation center staff contacted emergency services. “Within approximately eight minutes, College Park Fire Rescue arrived on the scene to assess and provide care,” Crane noted.
Amanda lost consciousness again, and her mother transported her to the hospital after an ambulance failed to arrive. “Why didn’t they come?” Crane questioned. “The larger issue is the ongoing challenge south of I-20 regarding adequate resources to serve the population.”
Amanda was pronounced dead at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Hughes Spalding Hospital. “I reached out to Amanda that night, sending her multiple texts, hoping for a response, any form of communication from her,” Rembert recalled. Her grieving team and coaches gathered with candles to honor her memory.
“It was heartwarming to see everyone come together, demonstrating how much she was loved and cherished, even by those who were not on her team, highlighting the impact she had on them,” remarked her teammate Alyssa Mitchell.
The cause of Amanda’s death remains undetermined, with an autopsy being conducted by the Fulton County Medical Examiner. “All she desired was the sisterhood from her teammates,” Rembert expressed. “Their presence truly meant a lot.”
