7-year-old killed in sand collapse at Florida beach was ‘the purest human being,’ mom says

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) – The young girl who was killed when a sand hole collapsed on a Florida beach has been identified.

Sloan Mattingly, 7, and her 9-year-old brother Maddox Mattingly were vacationing with their parents at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach on Tuesday when the collapse happened, police said.

The family is from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Emergency crews responded to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea at about 3 p.m., the Associated Press reports. There, they found Maddox buried up to his chest in the sand.

Sloan was completely buried beneath him in the hole, which was about five to six feet deep, officials said.

Rescuers used boards to keep more sand from collapsing as they used shovels to dig the children out, a spokesperson for the Pompano Beach Fire Rescue said. It was unclear how long they were buried.

Sloan was pronounced dead at the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Maddox is in stable condition.

Further details, such as if an adult or guardian was supervising the children, have not been provided.

Members at a town hall said the beach does not have lifeguards, according to NBC News.

Cell phone video shared by Thomas Rassas shows the aftermath of the incident at the beach as crowds gathered around the family.

Sloan was a first grader at Lafayette Meadows Elementary School.

Principal Jenny Fedele shared a message, describing Sloan as “a bright, sweet, loving first-grade student.”

Administrators and counselors will have additional support resources available to any students or staff members in need.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover funeral expenses for Sloan.

Sloan’s mom wrote a message on the GoFundMe page:

“A freak accident happened yesterday while we are here on vacation and it took away our greatest 7.5 years. Don’t tell us you’re sorry for our loss … don’t do that to us. We experienced the purest human being and we are forever changed by her. We love you beyond any stretch of the imagination. Our sweet Sloan. What we would give.”

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