Gina Heslop
Indiana’s Sloan and Maddox Mattingly were enjoying a family trip to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach in Florida.
The siblings, Sloan aged 7 and Maddox aged 9, were playing and digging in the soft sands when tragedy struck. The sand suddenly collapsed, trapping both children.
Beachgoers heard the parents’ cries for help and called 911. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, attempting to rescue the siblings trapped in the sand hole. Despite their efforts, Sloan passed away, and Maddox was left in critical condition.
The Mattingly family, devastated by the loss of Sloan, shared their grief on a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses and support the family during this difficult time. Friends and family poured in with messages of love and support for the sweet girl they lost.
Locals were shocked by the incident, as the beach had no lifeguards on duty. One witness described how a man had dug a massive hole in the sand just before the tragedy occurred.
The incident prompted warnings about the dangers of sand holes and calls for increased beach patrols to prevent future accidents.
The American Lifeguard Association emphasized the importance of beach safety, advocating for measures to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
The heartbreaking loss of Sloan serves as a reminder of the need for safety precautions, even during innocent beach activities. The Mattingly family and their community mourn the loss of a young life taken too soon.
