Confusion over 911 call

Tennessee's emergency response to Christa Pike's botched execution was delayed by 30 minutes due to confusion over the 911 call's authenticity.

“We are trying to find out if that is an actual thing that is happening and we need to send an ambulance”

Initial 911 call made

The first 911 call for an ambulance was made by someone inside Riverbend Maximum Security Institution at 8.40pm local time on Sept 30.

Verification struggle

Dispatchers and prison staff struggled to confirm the call was real, first saying it was false before confirming an ambulance was needed.

“if this is someone that is just basically prank-calling”

False call claim

At 9.03pm, officials claimed the call was false and no medical assistance was needed.

“it is a false call”

Real call confirmed

At 9.07pm, a state official confirmed the call was real and demanded emergency responders enter the prison.

“some sort of state official is outside the gate at the prison telling us that it’s real and demanding us to go in”

Ambulance response

The ambulance arrived at the prison gates 9 minutes after the call was confirmed legitimate.

Pike's survival

Christa Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital and her lawyers said she was still breathing and needed urgent care.

“She is still alive and breathing and needs immediate life-saving care”