A tragic incident during a family vacation in Florida has caught the attention of many, involving the untimely death of a 7-year-old girl.
On Tuesday, Sloan Mattingly and her brother were enjoying their time on the beach, playing in a hole they had dug. Suddenly, the sand surrounding them gave way and collapsed.
Sloan and her family hail from Indiana, but there is a connection to Oklahoma. The incident garnered widespread attention across the country, prompting Sloan’s family to share their side of the story publicly.
According to Chris Sloan, Sloan’s uncle, she was always a happy and vibrant person to be around. Her infectious energy and innocence made her a joy to be with. It is this aspect of her personality that is most painful to lose in the midst of this tragedy.
Sloan and her nine-year-old brother Maddox enjoyed a family vacation near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They gleefully played in the sand on the beach alongside their parents, Chris Sloan’s sister, Therese, and her husband, Jason. It’s worth noting that Sloan is affectionately called Sloanie, as she is named after her mother’s side of the family.
According to Chris, the group had a great time during their stay at an Airbnb. He mentioned, “Everybody was really excited to see them out there.”
Sloan’s family often faces the challenge of limited travel opportunities due to her father’s ownership of a drywall and painting business.
“They don’t take vacations often, but they recently visited Ft. Lauderdale for a beach getaway,” shared Chris. “They have been sharing pictures of their time there on social media over the past few days.”
In addition to sharing their adventure on social media, the entire family stayed connected through a group text. Sloan’s mother has seven siblings, and their relatives are scattered across the country. Sloan and Maddox frequently used the group chat to send heartfelt birthday videos to their family members. This brother and sister duo were inseparable, always by each other’s side.
“Ah, those were some good memories,” reminisced Chris.
Chris resides in Oklahoma.
Chris stated that the woman was unresponsive when they arrived at the scene.
Sand is a perilous substance that can give way unexpectedly and rapidly, and the family wants to raise awareness about this potential danger.
Chris expressed the importance of sharing this story, emphasizing that even if it can save just one life, it is worth it. He acknowledged the reality and tragedy of the situation, emphasizing that it has indeed occurred. Chris and his team are actively dealing with the aftermath, hoping to prevent such a tragedy from happening to anyone else in the future.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the family with their expenses.