A civil lawsuit has been filed against Gold Cross and three first responders with the Augusta Fire Department on behalf of a Hephzibah woman who died as emergency personnel stood outside her home.
The Richmond County Superior Court lawsuit was filed on behalf of Nichoel “Nikki” Gaithers, 43, by her mother, Mattie Gaithers, and Tara Hannah, the temporary administrator of her estate.
Gaithers was found dead April 21, 2021, inside her Hephzibah home 32 minutes after she called 911 gasping. She couldn’t breathe, she told the operator. According to the lawsuit, she had suffered a pulmonary embolism. According to John Hopkins medical website, a pulmonary embolism is a dangerous condition caused when a blood clot enters a lung.
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Gaithers called 911 at 4:39 a.m. because she couldn’t breathe. The 911 center transferred the call to Gold Cross to send an ambulance, but Gold Cross asked for an ambulance with the Augusta Fire Department to be dispatched because the Gold Cross crew was too far away to appropriately respond to a priority 1 call, according to the lawsuit. A fire engine was dispatched instead of an ambulance.
The Augusta Fire Department first responders and Gold Cross ambulance were both on their way when the Gold Cross dispatcher learned from Gaithers that she was unable to open the door but had given her permission for the first responders to use force to gain entry. This was relayed to both responding agencies, according to the lawsuit, while they were still in route.
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The fire department personnel and Gold Cross ambulance got to Gaithers’ home at 4:54 a.m., but instead of entering the home, they called the sheriff’s department at 4:56 a.m. and asked for a deputy, according to the lawsuit. Two minutes later, the emergency operator again told the responders they had permission to use force to get to Gaithers, according to the lawsuit.
When the first responders finally entered the home at 5:11 a.m., three minutes after a deputy arrived on the scene, Gaithers was dead.
The lawsuit contends Gaithers suffered needless physical and mental pain. The lawsuit filed May 27 represents only one side of a legal dispute.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
