Indiana siblings Sloan and Maddox Mattingly’s beach day turned tragic at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida. What began as innocent fun digging in the sand ended with seven-year-old Sloan losing her life and nine-year-old Maddox fighting for survival in the hospital.
The Mattingly family, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was on vacation to escape the winter chill. On February 20, while playing near their parents, Sloan and Maddox accidentally ventured into a large sand hole. Suddenly, the sand collapsed around them.
Bystanders heard screams and saw frantic digging attempts to rescue the children. A beachgoer called 911, reporting a child trapped in the sand. The children’s father urgently sought help as the sand swallowed Sloan, while their mother also cried out for assistance.
Emergency teams quickly arrived, using support boards to stabilize the sand and shovels to dig the children out. Despite their efforts, Sloan did not survive. Maddox was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Maddox’s current condition remains uncertain as the family copes with the devastating loss of Sloan and hopes for his recovery. The tragic accident has deeply affected the Mattingly family and those close to them, reminding everyone of the hidden dangers even in moments of innocent play.