FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A tragic incident unfolded on the beaches of Florida when a sand hole collapsed, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old Indiana girl who was digging with her brother. The occurrence highlights an often overlooked danger that claims the lives of numerous children across the country every year when sand collapses on them while they’re digging.

Sloan Mattingly tragically lost her life at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s beach, as she and her 9-year-old brother, Maddox, were playing and digging in a 4-to-5-foot-deep hole. The collapse buried both children, with the girl ending up completely covered. Despite the efforts of bystanders, the hole kept collapsing as they tried to free Sloan using their hands and plastic pails.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea does not have lifeguards at its beach, leaving no immediate professional help available. It took approximately four minutes for deputies to arrive after the collapse, with paramedics and firefighters arriving soon after, according to 911 calls released by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

The emergency call captured the anguish of the bystanders as they desperately tried to rescue Sloan. Despite two registered nurses and other bystanders doing everything they could, rescue crews were unable to revive the little girl after freeing her from the sand.

This tragedy sheds light on the fact that 3 to 5 children die in the United States each year due to sand collapses, according to news reports and a 2007 medical study. Even the seemingly harmless act of digging in the sand can turn dangerous and lethal, making it crucial for parents and guardians to exercise caution.

The incidents that lead to such accidents often occur in relaxed recreational settings, catching people off guard due to the association of the beach with fun and leisure. As such, lifeguards emphasize the importance of monitoring children’s sand play and intervening when necessary, as the risk of sand collapses can be deceiving.