A Florida woman aged 52 lost her life under circumstances that now warrant an internal investigation by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. The woman from Opa-Locka, Florida, was reportedly left on her kitchen floor by paramedics who had to respond to another emergency call, raising concerns about the existing emergency response protocols.
Tasheba Anderson, the deceased, began feeling severe stomach pain at her residence on January 26, 2025, around 2:30 PM. Anderson had undergone a gastric bypass surgery six months prior at Jackson Memorial Hospital and had been monitoring her recovery meticulously. In the past, she had endured several episodes that necessitated medical intervention.
As Anderson’s pain escalated, her family members promptly dialed 911. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was quick to respond to the emergency call, reaching Anderson’s Northwest 135th Street home within a few minutes. They started their initial assessment and treatment, positioning Anderson on the kitchen floor to monitor her vital signs.
Anderson’s sister, Audrey Bent, who was present during the incident, stated that the paramedics had just begun the treatment when they received another emergency call. “They had wrapped a sheet around her neck, and then, they got a call for a fire up the street. And they left her here and said they would be back,” Bent informed a local CBS affiliate. The call was about a fire at a commercial building located less than half a mile away on Northwest 27th Avenue.
Immobile on the floor and in dire need of help, Anderson pleaded with her family members. Bent remembered Anderson’s final conscious moments as, “She was saying, ‘Why won’t they help me? Why nobody won’t help me? Why they just leave me like that? Why they won’t help me?'” Anderson lost consciousness shortly after the paramedics’ departure, leaving her family members in fear and confusion.
Anderson’s medical history revealed multiple hospitalizations over the past six months due to complications from the gastric bypass procedure. All of these episodes required immediate medical intervention, but none had posed a life-threatening risk until this event. Her most recent medical check-up, conducted two weeks prior to her death, showed standard recovery progress.
Upon their return, the paramedics faced questions from family members regarding why Anderson was left alone. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the first responders appeared visibly irritated when questioned. The tension escalated after a paramedic allegedly threw Anderson’s ID card on the ground after a family member handed it to him.
Anderson was eventually transferred to Jackson North Medical Center. Despite the efforts of the emergency room staff to stabilize her, Anderson was declared dead at 5:17 PM, less than two hours post her arrival. The official cause of death is yet to be determined pending a medical examiner’s report.
In response to the incident, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has initiated an internal investigation to review the circumstances surrounding Anderson’s medical emergency and the conduct of the first responders. The review will include dispatch records, response times, and protocol adherence to ascertain if proper procedures were followed. While officials have confirmed the investigation, they have not revealed specific findings or an estimated timeline for its conclusion. The family is seeking transparency, questioning the paramedics’ decisions and Anderson’s care during the critical moments leading up to her death.
Tasheba Anderson, known for her dedication as a school clerk and her commitment to education and community, leaves behind her son, Sean Collier, her mother, aunts and uncles, sisters, along with a large extended family and friends. Her family is seeking closure regarding her untimely death.
