Florida
Florida boys, best friends die after sand hole collapses; ‘unimaginable nightmare’
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – Two Florida boys died when a hole they were digging in sand collapsed and trapped them, according to sheriff’s officials and reported by News4JAX partners News6 in Orlando.
Citrus County deputies responded Sunday afternoon to Sportsman Park in Inverness.
Full story can be read on website of News4JAX partners, News6 in Orlando.
The boys, 14-year-olds George Watts and Derrick Hubbard, had dug a deep hole about 4-5 feet deep and dug a tunnel when the sand collapsed, trapping them in the hole, according to a report.
A GoFundMe set up for the boys’ families described the “unimaginable nightmare” as a fear that became reality.
“While playing together, the boys dug a tunnel in sugar sand and were inside when it suddenly collapsed. In an instant, our world was shattered. What should have been another day of childhood adventure turned into a heartbreaking loss that no parent should ever have to endure. Our precious boys were taken from us far too soon,” the GoFundMe reads.
The two boys grew up “side by side, bonded like siblings,” the GoFundMe said.
The two boys were students at Inverness Middle School, according to sheriff’s officials. School officials released a statement on the incident earlier this week:
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FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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