7-year-old girl is killed when sand hole collapses on a Florida beach

• Sand hole collapses killing a 7-year-old girl.
• She and her brother were playing on a Florida beach.
• It’s a warning for parents.

In something like a scene from a movie, two young siblings found themselves engulfed by sand while they were digging a hole on the beach at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in Broward County, Florida.

What started as a fun family vacation swiftly turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy for the Mattingly family.

Visiting from Fort Wayne, Indiana, their trip to South Florida was meant to be a pleasant getaway, but it ended in the death of their youngest child.

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Sloan Mattingly, 7, and her 9-year-old brother, Maddox, were innocently playing in the sand when they were buried alive.

Tragically, Sloan was killed, but her brother, Maddox, managed to survive with prompt medical intervention, according to Broward police.

While grappling with the terrible loss Teresa Mattingly wrote: «A freak accident happened yesterday while we are here on vacation and it took away our greatest 7.5 years.»

«Don’t tell us you’re sorry for our loss…don’t do that to us,” the grieving mother is quoted on the GoFundMe campaign set up to help with funeral expenses.

Sand hole collapses burying 2 children on a Florida beach

It’s unclear exactly what happened on the beach and authorities are still looking for answers. Broward police stated that the circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.

Eyewitnesses and the children’s parents say they were digging a hole that was four or five feet deep.

Some bystanders captured the terrifying scene on video, while others rushed to aid the youngsters, frantically digging through the sand with their bare hands in an attempt to rescue them.

According to official reports, Broward Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics were dispatched to the scene shortly after 3:16 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20.

There were no lifeguards on the beach

The sand hole collapsed near the 4400 block of El Mar Drive. A rescue helicopter was dispatched to aid in the rescue efforts.

Both children were freed from the hole and transported to Broward Health Medical Center. A few hours later, the Sheriff’s Office announced that little Sloan had died.

The case has shocked the community, especially those who like to enjoy sunny days with their family on the beach. A monument has been erected the site of the incident.

Tom Gill, spokesman for the U.S. Life Saving Association, said the little girl’s death could have been prevented by the presence of lifeguards in the area, according to Local 10.

Could the tragedy be avoided?

Authorities are waiting for a definitive report from experts to determine if there was some sort of negligence.

The case has touched the community, so it is expected they will be considering ways to prevent this sort of tragedy in the future.

Meanwhile, a mother tries to come to terms with the death of her little girl.

“We love you beyond any stretch of the imagination. Our sweet Sloan. What we would give,” her GoFundMe quote concludes.