SIBLING’S GAME ENDED WITH A TRAGEDY, ONE LOST HER LIFE AND THE OTHER ONE IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFEv

Siblings from Indiana, Sloan and Maddox Mattingly, were playing at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach, as they were digging. Sadly, the sands swallowed the siblings, as 7-year-old Sloan lost her life, and 9-year-old Maddox is fighting for his life in hospital.

The parents, Therese and Jason Mattingly took their children, Maddox and Sloan, and went to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

On the 20th of February, the family were enjoying their time in the beach, as their children were playing on the beach, where there was a big sand hole.

“Everybody’s screaming,” another person who was at the beach at that time described the moment when people started to dig the hole, as 911 was alerted.

“There’s a child that they’re trying to get out.” the caller said to the dispatch officer. The caller also explained that the father of the children was “yelling for help because his child is caught in a hole in the sand, and the mother was yelling, “My daughter’s in there.”

As more than one emergency agencies arrived at the scene, they helped to stop the hole from swallowing more sand, and tried to save Sloan and Maddox. The time spent for the saving efforts was not stated.

As both of the siblings were saved from the sand hole, Sloan passed away, while MAddox was in a critical condition, fighting for his life.

“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,” the mother of the children wrote on the GoFundMe page she created.

“We love you beyond any stretch of the imagination. Our sweet Sloan. What we would give.”

The funding page received $146,000 from donations, and was written, “What started as an amazing family trip quickly turned into the devastatingly tragic loss of their 7-year-old daughter/sister Sloan. We know that no amount of money will bring beautiful Sloan back, but your donation can help bring Sloan home from Florida, cover funeral costs and ease the financial stress as they learn to navigate their new world.”

A friend of the family, Whitney Kanjala had shared the picture of Sloan, and stated, “She was the funniest friend you could ever ask for, the most loyal sister, the [tiniest] yet most acrobatic…and one of the greatest creations Therese Mattingly and Jason Mattingly ever made.”

“We took Sloan to this ice cream shop with her name on it. It was a rainy nasty day but we made the best of what we had. We also hit up a local arcade and sang makeshift karaoke at our Airbnb.” Sloan’s father had wrote as he shared the same picture.

“I’ve lived here 50 years, I’ve never seen anything like that,” a local said to CBS. “I’m shocked. I’m absolutely shocked. I had no idea that digging out…something could happen where it could collapse underneath someone just hanging out and playing on the beach.”

Another local, Harry Defina talked with NBC Miami, stated that the children were playing with the hole, dug by a grown man.

“I was walking by the beach, and I saw a man…digging a really big hole…up to his chest. I looked at him and he looked back, and I walked away, I didn’t think to go over and tell him not to do it,” Defina said to NBC Miami.

“I’m even upset that someone would imply that those kids dug that hole. They didn’t dig that hole. It was massive and it ended up like 18-feet-by-6-feet.”

“I see kids in the hole. I could see the boy a little bit, but all I can see…I’m not going to be able to finish this…all I could see was the top of the girl’s head.” Defina said.

The authorities are investigating the tragic situation, as Bernard J. Fisher II said, “The recent incident in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a heart-wrenching reminder of why we must work together to keep our beaches safe.”

“By implementing these measures and fostering a community of safety and awareness, we can prevent future tragedies and ensure that our beaches remain places of joy and recreation for everyone.”

Related Posts

THEY TOLD US HE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY—BUT HIS DOG KNEW BETTER Nobody could get Rex to move. He stood like a statue at the casket, paw resting on the edge, nose pressed to the wood like he was waiting for a signal. One last command. Something to explain why the voice he knew better than his own heartbeat had suddenly gone silent. Officer Grant was the best handler on the force. Everybody said so. Clean record, sharp instincts, calm under pressure. And he loved that dog like it was family. No—more than family. So when they said it was a “routine traffic stop gone bad,” none of us questioned it. Not out loud, anyway. But Rex didn’t believe it. You could see it in the way he sniffed the edges of the casket, searching—not for closure, but for proof. For something that made sense. I was standing a few rows back when the dog did something strange. He stepped back. Looked directly at the guy holding his leash. Then growled. Low. Quiet. But unmistakable. The leash officer froze. You don’t ignore a K9 when it reacts like that. And then, as the priest kept speaking, I saw what Rex saw. A patch of tan fabric stuck to the sole of a man’s shoe. Right in the front row. Civilian clothes. No badge. No tears. Just watching like he was waiting for it to be over. Rex growled again. And this time, I saw the patch too. It had a bloodstain. And three letters barely visible under the smear: “IA—” ⬇️ (continue reading in the first cᴑmment)

Nobody could get Rex to move. He stood like a statue at the casket, paw resting on the edge, nose pressed to the wood like he was…

HE BUYS HER THE SAME ROSES EVERY WEEK—EVEN THOUGH SHE DOESN’T REMEMBER WHY We saw him every Thursday around 3pm. Same motorized cart. Same yellow JEGS hat. And always—always—the same bouquet of red roses in the basket. He’d roll straight past the deli, turn into the floral section, pick the fullest bunch, and sniff them like it still meant something. My coworker Kira asked him once, “Special occasion today?” He just smiled and said, “Not today. Just Thursday.” That week, I decided to follow him out—just curious. He loaded his groceries into a beige sedan with shaky hands. Took his time, wiped the dashboard like it mattered, then opened the passenger door. That’s when I saw her. She looked elegant even in a worn cardigan. Gray hair pulled back with a velvet ribbon. Eyes wide and blank, like she was somewhere else entirely. He handed her the roses without a word. She looked at them like she’d never seen a flower before. Then smiled. “Are these from the man who used to bring me flowers?” she asked. He paused for half a second. Then nodded. “Yeah, sweetheart. Every Thursday.” He kissed her forehead and helped her buckle in. I stood there watching like a fool, heart in my throat. And I couldn’t stop thinking about how much it must hurt—being remembered as a stranger by the person who once knew everything about you. But the next week? He came back. Same time. Same hat. Same roses. Only this time, he grabbed a second bouquet too. And tucked a note into that one. I saw it slip out as he turned the cart—folded, handwritten, with just three words showing: “In case she…”⬇️

We saw him every Thursday around 3pm. Same motorized cart. Same yellow JEGS hat. And always—always—the same bouquet of red roses in the basket. He’d roll straight…

HE RETURNED HER TRASH CAN EVERY WEEK—BUT TODAY, SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT It was just another morning. Another trash pickup. But then I saw him—the same sanitation worker I’d noticed before. He didn’t just empty the can and leave. He carefully wheeled it all the way back to the side door of the small brick house, just like he always did. No rush. No hesitation. Just quiet kindness. Curious, I approached the elderly woman sitting on her porch. She smiled softly. “That man? He’s been doing that for me every week,” she said. “Since my husband passed, I can’t bring it back myself.” I glanced back at him, feeling something heavy settle in my chest. But then I noticed… he wasn’t heading back to the truck right away. He just stood there, staring at the house. Something was wrong. And the moment I realized why—my stomach dropped.⬇️ (continue reading in the first cᴑmment)

It was just another morning. Another trash pickup. But then I saw him—the same sanitation worker I’d noticed before. He didn’t just empty the can and leave….

Many people don’t know what its purpose is used for 🤔 but now that I know, I don’t know if I wanted to know 👇😅 check in comms:

The brightly colored fabric strip may appear pointless at first, and visitors frequently take it off for comfort. In addition to complete sets of pillows, blankets, and…

I ADOPTED A 4-YEAR-OLD BOY—ALL SEEMED PERFECT UNTIL HE SHOWED ME HIS DRAWING I always dreamed of having kids, but life didn’t go the way I planned. After years of hoping and waiting, I realized maybe my path was meant to be different. That’s when I met Joey, a little boy who needed a home just as much as I needed him. From the moment he reached for my hand, I knew I was finally a mom. A week after Joey moved in, I planned his FIRST REAL BIRTHDAY. I wanted it to feel special—balloons, pancakes, presents carefully picked out just for him. We laughed in the kitchen, making a total mess, and for a moment, I thought he finally felt safe. But when he opened his gift, his smile faded. By the time we sat down with the cake, HE WASN’T EVEN LOOKING AT ME! Just staring at the candle like it wasn’t real… I nudged the plate toward him, waiting for that little spark of joy. Instead, he looked up, eyes full of something I couldn’t place. And that’s when he said it, quiet but sharp enough to break me: “My birthday was YESTERDAY.” “But… the documents say it’s today,” I whispered. “They made a MISTAKE. It’s my brother’s…” he answered. My heart stopped. “Wait. Your BROTHER??” He was silent for a moment, then finally added, “YOU HAVE TO SEE SOMETHING.” Then, he reached under his pillow and pulled out a small wooden box. He opened it and took out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me. I looked at it… and oh my God! ⬇

My adopted son stared at his birthday cake in silence. Then, tears rolled down his cheeks. “My birthday was yesterday,” he whispered. My stomach dropped—the documents said today. What…

After going through numerous challenges, Carrie Underwood and her husband decided to move to a farm.. (check in first comment👇)

Carrie Underwood, having grown up on a farm, developed a love for gardening and organic living. She considers her garden a “happy place” where she can reflect….