Parents of girl buried by sand set up campaign to prevent similar tragedies after her death: Sloan Mattingly | US News

The parents of a seven-year-old girl who tragically passed away after being buried by sand on a Florida beach have established a nationwide campaign to prevent similar accidents in the future.

While assisting her brother Maddox, nine, in digging a hole, Sloan Mattingly was caught in a collapse on Tuesday 20 February.

Witnesses at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea rushed to rescue the siblings, but unfortunately, Sloan did not survive. She had been trapped in the 5ft 11in deep pit for about 20 minutes. Maddox, though injured, recovered in hospital.

In honor of Sloan, her parents Therese and Jason started a campaign advocating for building sandcastles instead of hazardous holes on the beach.

Mrs. Mattingly shared on social media, “Sloan’s legacy is her heart and spirit, and a bit of this too. Stay safe and speak up!”

The “Sandcastles For Sloan” initiative offers tips to prevent sand entrapment and advises against digging deep holes or letting children ingest sand.

It’s recommended to fill up holes after use to maintain safety for others at the beach. Families are also cautioned against sand consumption by children.

A touching message from the campaign states, “Sloan was a light in the world, a sweet little girl who loved dogs and the color red. Share this message to honor Sloan’s memory within your beach community.”

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The Mattingly family, hailing from Fort Wayne in Indiana, were on vacation at the time of the incident.

Mrs. Mattingly described her daughter’s passing as a “freak accident” in a heartfelt message shared on a GoFundMe page set up for the family in February.

She expressed, “It robbed us of her 7.5 years. Don’t apologize for our loss…don’t. We encountered the purest soul and we are forever altered by her.” She continued, “We love you beyond words. Our sweet Sloan. What we wouldn’t give.”

The GoFundMe page raised over $162,000 (£127,000) to assist with funeral expenses and provide financial support during this difficult time.

Sloan’s uncle Chris Sloan recounted to KFOR-TV in February, “They were having a great time. Everyone was excited to see them out there.” He added, “After the sand caved, Sloan kept trying to grab Maddox’s leg to get out of the sand, eventually he couldn’t feel her move anymore.”
He further shared, “The sand reached up to Maddox’s chest, he was screaming for help, and many people rushed to their aid.”