Heartbreaking details have emerged following the tragic death of seven-year-old Sloan Mattingly, who lost her life in a devastating accident while vacationing with her family in Florida.
The Mattingly family, hailing from Indiana, was left shattered after Sloan became trapped underneath sand during a beach outing, ultimately succumbing to the ordeal.
The tragic incident occurred as Sloan was enjoying a vacation with her family in the Sunshine State.
Engaged in innocent play, the first-grader was digging a hole with her older brother Maddox when the sand suddenly gave way, engulfing her for approximately 20 minutes last month.
Despite frantic efforts by authorities and beach-goers to rescue her, Sloan tragically passed away at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.
A month on from the tragedy, Sloan's bereaved parents are opening up about their heartbreaking loss during an interview with Good Morning America.
Watch their interview below:"It was kind of a blur, and it’s probably maybe my mind protecting myself, but it just happened so fast," dad Jason recalled. "In my mind, I had her in my hands, but the weight of the sand was too much."
Mom Therese also shared: "It didn’t matter that we were literally right there. It was just a hole and then it was nothing. And then it just becomes chaos and horror."
The parents said that they were known as being "overprotective" among friends and "have no idea how it happened," adding: "That's kind of the question we have too because we're the kind of people that other parents or family members would roll their eyes at because we're a little overprotective most of the time.
"I think of everything. When we go to the beach, we think of water safety. And this never, ever once crossed my mind. And of course, now, looking now, I think 'of course!' And so that part's really frustrating," she added.
The Mattingly family are hoping that by sharing Sloan's story, they will help save other families from similar heartbreaks, especially as the spring break season begins. Her dad urged: "Strangers, if you see something that’s dangerous, take the courage and say something."
The town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is now creating a national safety campaign, with Mayor Chris Vincent telling GMA: "As a father myself, I can’t fathom what they are going through. I want to thank them for staying in contact with us as we develop a national public safety campaign in Sloan’s memory.
"We will share it with as many coastal communities as possible to help prevent another unimaginable tragedy. We’re also discussing how we monitor our beach, a local Ordinance to ban digging on our beach, and the best way to honor Sloan," he added.
Previously reflecting on the profound loss, Sloan's mother, Therese, described her daughter as the "purest human being," expressing the family's deep sense of grief.
"A freak accident happened yesterday while we are here on vacation and it took away our greatest 7.5 years," Therese shared on a GoFundMe page set up for the family. "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 outpouring of support for the grieving family has been remarkable, with donations to cover funeral expenses surpassing $158,000.
Sloan's uncle, Chris Sloan, recounted the harrowing ordeal, detailing how Sloan desperately tried to free herself by grabbing onto her brother's leg. "She was non-responsive at the scene is what we know," Chris shared with KFOR. "Later we found out that after the sand had caved, she kept trying to grab up Maddox’s leg to get up out of the sand, and eventually he couldn’t feel her moving anymore."
Maddox, who survived the terrifying incident, was rescued by his father as beach-goers rushed to assist. Chris remembered Sloan as a radiant child, brimming with joy and innocence. "She was really fun to be around. She had a lot of energy and just totally innocent, and that’s what hurts the most in all this," he expressed.
The Mattingly family, known for their father's painting business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, rarely went on vacations, making the tragedy even more devastating for their close-knit community.
Despite the heartbreak, the family cherishes the memories of their beloved Sloan, whose vibrant spirit touched the lives of all who knew her.
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