The tragic incident at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach, where a young girl lost her life after becoming trapped in a sand hole, has been marked by identifying the victims and highlighting the potential preventive measures lifeguards could have taken, according to experts.
Authorities have now identified the 5-year-old victim as Sloan Mattingly, while her older brother, 9-year-old Maddox Mattingly, suffered critical injuries in the unfortunate event.
Following the distress call at approximately 3:16 p.m. to the 4400 block of El Mar Drive, Broward Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics swiftly responded. Aerial footage depicted a scene of crowds gathered around a sizable sand hole, which had been cordoned off.
According to detectives, the children, accompanied by their parents on vacation from Indiana, were engaged in digging the hole when the unforeseen entrapment occurred.
Both youngsters were promptly transported to the hospital in critical condition. Regrettably, it was later confirmed by the BSO that the young girl had succumbed to her injuries.
