Tragedy struck a family vacation as a seven-year-old girl from Indiana lost her life after becoming buried alive in a sand hole she and her nine-year-old brother were digging on a beach in Florida.
According to a report by NBC News, the Broward Sheriff’s Office stated that Sloan and Maddox Mattingly were on holiday with their parents in Lauderdale By The Sea when they became trapped in a hole approximately five feet deep.
The beach, unfortunately, lacked lifeguards, but several beachgoers came to their aid, assisting in freeing the siblings while multiple agencies responded to an emergency call.
Rescuers deployed support boards to prevent further sand collapses and eventually used shovels to extricate Sloan and Maddox from the hole. NBC News noted, “It’s not clear how long the children were trapped before they were rescued.”
Both children were rushed to the hospital, but tragically, Sloan succumbed to her injuries, while Maddox is reported to be in stable condition.
The government of Lauderdale By The Sea expressed sympathy for the siblings in a statement posted on Facebook, saying, “Our hearts are heavy in LBTS today after learning two children were trapped in the sand. We are doing everything we can to support our first responders.”