In a heartbreaking incident, a 7-year-old girl named Sloan Mattingly lost her life on Tuesday after a sand hole she was digging with her brother at a Florida beach collapsed, burying them under the sand. This unfortunate event sheds light on the dangers associated with digging deep holes in beach sand, a tragedy that unfolds a few times each year in the United States.
Girl Died in Sand Hole
Sloan Mattingly was on vacation with her family from Indiana, enjoying the sun and sand in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a coastal town north of Miami. While playing in the sand with her 9-year-old brother, Maddox, the siblings became stuck as the hole they were digging collapsed around them on Tuesday afternoon.
Florida Beach Claims Life of 7-Year-Old Girl
Beachgoers, including a registered nurse, immediately responded to the distressing situation. In a 911 call released by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, the urgency of the situation is evident as witnesses describe the horrifying scene.
Rescuers, including Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, arrived promptly, finding several adults desperately trying to dig the children from the approximately four to five feet deep and wide hole.
Sandra King, a spokeswoman for Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, described the traumatic scene, stating that the boy was buried up to his chest, and the girl was completely underneath the sand. Despite the efforts to extract and resuscitate Sloan, she was pronounced dead at the hospital. The boy, Maddox, fortunately, remained uninjured.
Investigation and Sand Collapse Statistics
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident, including the circumstances leading to the large hole. Tom Gill, Vice President of the United States Lifesaving Association, highlighted the dynamics of beach environments, noting that up to three people each year in the country are killed by collapsing sand. This incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with beach activities.
Gill emphasized the importance of exercising caution when digging in the sand, recommending a rule of thumb to never dig a hole deeper than knee-deep for the smallest person involved. Lifeguards play a crucial role in preventing such accidents and rescuing those trapped, according to Gill.
Previous Incidents and Safety Measures
This tragedy in Florida follows a similar incident earlier this month at a Jersey Shore beach and a fatal occurrence in May in a national park in North Carolina. A 2007 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine documented 52 fatal and nonfatal cases across the country in the preceding decade.
Gill emphasized the significance of lifeguards in preventing accidents, underscoring their role in identifying and addressing potentially dangerous holes on the beach. The report also raises questions about beach safety measures, prompting inquiries into whether Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beaches have lifeguards.
The devastating incident at the Florida beach serves as a somber reminder of the hidden dangers associated with seemingly innocent beach activities. As investigations unfold, beachgoers need to be mindful of the risks and adhere to safety guidelines provided by experts like Tom Gill.
The community mourns the loss of Sloan Mattingly and hopes that this tragedy sparks increased awareness and preventative measures to ensure the safety of beach enthusiasts nationwide.
