Sloan Mattingly’s parents are speaking out weeks after her tragic death at the beach. The 7-year-old, a fan of Taylor Swift, was with her family in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea on February 20 when a sand hole collapsed, burying her and her brother. Her parents, Jason and Therese Mattingly, recounted the horrifying moment on Good Morning America. Jason expressed the suddenness of the event, saying, “It was kind of a blur… it just happened so fast.” He attempted to rescue Sloan but couldn’t overcome the weight of the sand. Therese described the chaos, emphasizing that despite their proximity, they couldn’t prevent the tragedy. “It didn’t matter that we were literally right there,” she said. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers lurking in seemingly harmless activities.
