A family vacation to a Florida beach turned tragic when a 7-year-old girl, Sloan Mattingly, died after being buried in a sand hole while playing with her 9-year-old brother, Maddox. The incident occurred at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's beach, where the siblings were trapped in a 5-foot deep sand hole that collapsed on them. Despite the efforts of around 20 bystanders and rescue crews, the sand kept collapsing as they tried to dig the children out using their hands and plastic pails. The first deputies arrived on the scene within minutes, followed by paramedics who attempted to resuscitate Sloan, but she was pronounced dead at the hospital. Maddox was submerged up to his chest in the sand but survived and is in stable condition at Broward Health Medical Center.

The tragic incident highlights the dangers of digging deep holes at the beach, with similar deaths reported in other states in recent years. The American Lifeguard Association advises against digging holes deeper than knee-level, as they can pose a serious risk of collapse. Lifeguard manager Patrick Bafford emphasized the importance of beach safety and the need for parents to be cautious when allowing their children to dig in the sand. The beach can be a hazard, and tragedies like this one serve as a reminder that accidents can happen even in seemingly safe recreational settings.

The Mattingly family, who were on vacation from Indiana, was left devastated by the loss of their daughter and the traumatic experience of seeing their children trapped in the sand. The incident has sparked calls for increased awareness of the risks associated with digging at the beach and the importance of exercising caution to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.