LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – The death of a 7-year-old girl who was buried in sand on a South Florida beach was “a preventable tragedy” that wouldn’t have happened if lifeguards were around, an expert tells Local 10 News.
Sloan Mattingly died after a sand hole she and her 9-year-old brother, Maddox, were digging in collapsed on Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach Tuesday. Maddox, also trapped, survived.
The Mattingly family was vacationing in South Florida from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
While investigators still work to find out what led up to the fatal incident, Tom Gill a spokesperson for the U.S. Life Saving Association, which certifies teams of lifeguards to work in cities across the country said it would not have happened had there been lifeguards on the beach.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea does not have lifeguards on its stretch of beach.
“Every USLA lifeguard who has a certification from one of our agencies is going to know about the dangers of sand collapse and they are going to warn people immediately upon seeing that,” Gill said.
Local 10 News has learned that even in cities that do have guarded beaches, there are still areas behind condos, hotels and private homes that remain unguarded because of the high costs that come with providing lifeguards in less-populated areas.
Tuesday’s incident happened behind the High Noon Beach Resort at 4424 El Mar Drive.
“How anyone can choose not to protect the people they are inviting there, or the people that live there, I think that those people really need to think about their choices right now,” Gill said.
Local 10 News has asked town officials whether they intend to add lifeguards to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach.
A spokesperson said the issue will be discussed at a town commission meeting next Tuesday. The town will also have a moment of silence for the Mattingly family Friday night.
Sloan’s loved ones have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for final expenses.