Tragic Beach Accident Claims 7-Year-Old Girl in Florida
A family vacation turned deadly for Indiana siblings Sloan and Maddox Mattingly. The children, 7 and 9, were playing in the sand at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach when a large sand hole collapsed, burying them alive. Tragically, Sloan did not survive, and her brother Maddox remains in critical condition.

Family Escapes Winter for Florida Sunshine
In mid-February, Therese and Jason Mattingly packed their kids and left chilly Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the sunny beaches of Florida. On February 20, the family enjoyed the beach before 3 p.m., letting the children dig and play in a large sand hole nearby.

Frantic Rescue Efforts
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the sand swallowed the siblings. A bystander called 911, reporting that a father was yelling for help while his daughter was trapped. “Everybody’s screaming,” the caller said.

Emergency responders quickly arrived, using support boards to prevent further collapse and shovels to dig out the children. Both were rushed to the hospital. Sloan later d**d, while Maddox’s recovery remains uncertain.