The shocking death of a little girl in a freak accident in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea a week ago demands a courageous and diligent review by town officials. That means a frank and thorough public discussion of the benefits of full-time lifeguards — something this seaside community apparently has never had.
That review begins in earnest at a special town commission meeting at Town Hall at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The first item on the agenda: “lifeguard discussion.”
Seven-year-old Sloan Mattingly and her nine-year-old brother, Maddox, were building a sand hole on the town beach last Tuesday. Along with their parents, Jason and Therese Mattingly, they were visiting from Fort Wayne, Ind., where Jason runs a home improvement business and both parents are busy members of a local health club, according to social media posts.
As the afternoon sun arced westward, the hole kept getting deeper. It eventually reached a reported five feet deep and five feet wide, and both children became trapped when the hole collapsed in on itself.
Buried in the sand
Beachgoers frantically worked to rescue them. Screams can be heard on 911 calls as one woman caller told a Broward Sheriff’s Office operator, “There’s a little girl buried in the sand.”
Maddox got out, but Sloan, trapped under the sand, did not. She was pronounced dead at Broward Health Medical Center.
The horrific story flashed around the world, from TV stations in Indiana to tabloids in New York and London, as websites showed aerial images of the huge hole and pictures of the sweet-looking first-grader with the toothy grin making a heart symbol with her hands.
Another image showed all four family members smiling at the water’s edge, with both kids in life jackets.
Notably lacking from news accounts were details about where the parents were as the hole got deeper — one of the many questions the Sheriff’s Office should answer, for the town and the public. “Good question,” Mayor Chris Vincent told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board Monday.
Another question is why this town has been so resistant to having lifeguards, unlike Fort Lauderdale and other beach communities. The answer, at least in part, involves money.
A year ago, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was finalizing plans to dissolve a volunteer fire department and cancel a contract with a private rescue company.
Instead, to save money, the town contracted with its neighbor to the north, Pompano Beach, to provide those services. The town’s annual budget of $29 million includes about $8 million for public safety.
‘Our mandate’ as leaders
Lifeguards were not part of the Pompano package, despite the relatively modest cost of $200,000 a year for two lifeguards, eight hours a day, seven days a week.
At a commission meeting on Feb. 14, 2023, only one town commissioner, Theo Poulopoulos, wondered why.
“We took an oath,” Poulopoulos said. “Our mandate is to make sure the people of this town are provided the best public safety, (and) are safe.”
As the meeting video shows, no one else on the town board voiced support for lifeguards.
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As far back as 1988, the Sun Sentinel reported, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea decided it cost too much money to staff the town beach with lifeguards.As long ago as 1988, the town faced questions about not having lifeguards after a Pennsylvania college student nearly drowned, fighting an undertow. He was saved by a surfer, not by a lifeguard.
A May 1988 Sun Sentinel article quoted the then-mayor, Wally Kilday, as saying: “Our beach is so safe, nobody ever gets hurt. There’s no need to use all that money. People should watch themselves and not take risks.”
Fame was fleeting
Only a few weeks ago, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was basking in the glow of its portrayal as “the perfect beach town” in a Southern Living magazine cover story that described the town as “idyllic.”
Then, shockingly, a sand hole collapsed in plain sight, killing a child and devastating a family.
In the heartbreaking aftermath, many people have donated to a GoFundMe account to assist the family. As of Monday, the goal of $150,000 was nearly reached.
This is the 75th anniversary of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and the safety review is unfolding in the heat of an unusually acrimonious political campaign for control of town government. The election is March 19.
Two of the commissioners who were silent on the need for lifeguards a year ago are now running for mayor.
A third mayoral candidate, Ann Marchetti, has broadly criticized business as usual in the town. But she said this is no time to play politics.
“Nobody should be making political statements,” Marchetti said. “A family is in mourning. But we should have an honest dialogue.”
It would be wrong for candidates to use a child’s tragic death for political advantage. But it’s fair to ask what this town should do to make its beach as safe as possible for everyone.
The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writer Martin Dyckman and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at .
