A day of fun turned tragic for two 14-year-old Florida boys when a sand tunnel they dug collapsed and buried them alive, according to reports from WFTS.Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports about two teens who went missing near Sportsman Park on Sunday. The two teens were identified as George Watts and Derrick Hubbard. Deputies found both boys dead inside a hole they had dug after a sand tunnel collapsed on them. Zachariah Roberson, a neighbor of the boys, described them as joyful and energetic. “They were just being kids. They were just playing in sand. We always encourage our kids to get off the tablets, electronics, to go play outside, and that’s exactly what they were doing,” Roberson said.On Wednesday morning, the Watts family decided to donate George’s organs.”Just knowing that they’re going to save other kids with their donations, and that they will live on somehow, that’s a blessing,” Roberson said.The teens attended Inverness Middle School, and the superintendent of Citrus Schools shared a message online:”The tragic events involving two of your students have deeply impacted all of us,” the superintendent said.The school district is expected to provide on-campus support teams throughout the week to help students cope with the loss.Experts advise against digging holes deeper than waist height and suggest filling in large holes before leaving the beach to prevent future accidents.
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. —
A day of fun turned tragic for two 14-year-old Florida boys when a sand tunnel they dug collapsed and buried them alive, according to reports from WFTS.
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports about two teens who went missing near Sportsman Park on Sunday.
The two teens were identified as George Watts and Derrick Hubbard.
Deputies found both boys dead inside a hole they had dug after a sand tunnel collapsed on them.
Zachariah Roberson, a neighbor of the boys, described them as joyful and energetic.
“They were just being kids. They were just playing in sand. We always encourage our kids to get off the tablets, electronics, to go play outside, and that’s exactly what they were doing,” Roberson said.
On Wednesday morning, the Watts family decided to donate George’s organs.
“Just knowing that they’re going to save other kids with their donations, and that they will live on somehow, that’s a blessing,” Roberson said.
The teens attended Inverness Middle School, and the superintendent of Citrus Schools shared a message online:
“The tragic events involving two of your students have deeply impacted all of us,” the superintendent said.
The school district is expected to provide on-campus support teams throughout the week to help students cope with the loss.
Experts advise against digging holes deeper than waist height and suggest filling in large holes before leaving the beach to prevent future accidents.