A beach outing turned deadly for a seven-year-old girl and injured her nine-year-old brother in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida. The tragic incident involved the deceased, Sloan Mattingly, and her brother, Maddox Mattingly.
Details provided by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and eyewitnesses reveal that the siblings, on vacation from Indiana, found themselves in a dangerous situation around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, when a deep hole they were digging collapsed.
The unexpected collapse of the hole, believed to be around five to six feet deep, trapped Sloan under the sand while Maddox was partially buried up to his chest.
An urgent rescue operation was launched, involving over a dozen people, including first responders from the Pompano Beach Fire Rescue. Cell phone videos taken by bystanders captured the concerted efforts to free the trapped children.
Despite the almost immediate response, Sloan was not breathing when paramedics reached her. Both children were quickly transported to Broward Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Tragically, Sloan was declared dead upon arrival. Maddox, however, was treated and is reported to be in stable condition, though further details about his condition were not immediately available.
This tragic incident underscores the risks associated with digging deep holes in the sand, a hazard highlighted by beach safety experts and organizations like the American Lifeguard Association. Collapses can occur quickly, and the weight of the sand can restrict breathing. Despite the seemingly harmless nature of this activity, the consequences can be life-threatening within a matter of minutes.
Bernard J. Fisher II, the association’s director of health and safety, stressed the importance of vigilance and preventive measures to protect beachgoers, particularly children, following this incident.
This event in Florida is not a standalone incident. Similar tragedies have occurred across the country, such as the death of an 18-year-old in New Jersey in 2022, who became trapped in a hole he had dug with his sister.
The National Parks Service advises against digging holes deeper than knee-high and stresses the need to fill in any holes before leaving the beach. This recommendation is based on the inherent instability of sand, which can lead to swift collapses that trap and suffocate individuals within minutes.