A tragic incident occurred at a Florida beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, where a 7-year-old girl, Sloan Mattingly, lost her life after a sand hole collapsed on her and her 9-year-old brother, Maddox. The siblings, who were on vacation from Indiana, were playing in the sand when they became trapped on Tuesday afternoon. Frantic beachgoers, including a registered nurse, tried to dig the children out as they called 911 for help. Rescuers from Pompano Beach Fire Rescue arrived at the scene to find the boy buried up to his chest and the girl completely covered by sand. Despite their efforts to resuscitate her, Sloan was pronounced dead at Broward Health Medical Center. The boy, fortunately, survived and is in stable condition.

The incident has shed light on the dangers of sand holes, a rare but deadly occurrence that claims the lives of several children each year in the United States. The American Lifeguard Association has issued a warning about the risks associated with digging deep holes in the sand and is advocating for increased beach patrols and emergency response training to prevent future tragedies. The heartbreaking event has left the community in mourning and serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of beach safety and awareness to prevent such devastating incidents from happening again.