LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – The parents of Sloan Mattingly, the little girl who died after being buried in a sand hole in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, spoke with “Good Morning America” this week about the tragedy.
It happened on Feb. 20 while the family from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was vacationing in South Florida.
Jason and Therese Mattingly described enjoying a picturesque beach day with their two young children when tragedy struck unexpectedly.
“The kids were looking up, you know, finding seashells and playing in the sand,” said Jason Mattingly.
“When we go to the beach, we think of water safety and this never, ever once crossed my mind,” said Therese Mattingly. “And of course, looking now, I’m like, ‘Oh, of course.’ And so that part’s really frustrating because I’m like, ‘man.’”
Last month, 7-year-old Sloan and her 9-year-old brother Maddox were digging in the sand at the beach when a sand hole collapsed on them, burying Sloan beneath her brother.
“It’s kind of a blur, and it’s probably in my mind protecting itself, but it just happened so fast. And in my mind, I had her in my hands, but the weight of the sand was too much,” recounted Jason Mattingly.
“It didn’t matter that we were literally right there. It was just a hole and there’s nothing. And then it just became chaos and horror,” added Therese Mattingly.
Numerous people frantically called 911, with one caller reporting, “The father started yelling for help, said his child is caught in a hole in the sand.”
Therese Mattingly recalled a woman, possibly a nurse, who stayed with Maddox while others dug, stating, “She was just so kind.”
Authorities said it took nearly 20 minutes to extricate the children from the hole, but Sloan did not survive.
Therese apologized to the witnesses, saying, “I’m so sorry. You witnessed pure horror.”
Jason Mattingly acknowledged everyone’s efforts, saying, “Everyone tried their hardest and, unfortunately, it didn’t work out in our favor.”
Experts warn that sand holes, even small ones, pose serious dangers on beaches.
Regarding beach safety, Jason Mattingly said he is not placing any blame on Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, but is hoping to see change.
In a statement, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea announced they are developing a national safety campaign and exploring ways to prevent similar tragedies.
Now, the Mattingly’s cherish memories of Sloan, remembering her as a joyful beam of light who loved unicorns and Taylor Swift.
As families head to beaches for spring break, the Mattingly’s are urging vigilance to prevent further tragedies.
“If we can do anything to save another family from going through this, whether that’s signage, beach patrol, and strangers,” Jason Mattingly said. “If you see something that’s dangerous, take the courage and say something.”