Two best friends were tragically killed after a hole they were digging collapsed on them in Florida.
George Watts and Derrick ‘DJ’ Hubbard had been shoveling the same spot in the ‘sugar sand,’ which is extremely fine and found in Florida’s Gulf Coast, for two weeks.
On January 10, the 14-year-olds were found buried four or five feet beneath the surface at Sportsman Park in Inverness, one hour northwest of Orlando, according to Fox13.
Their parents are believed to have realized something had gone wrong when neither of the teenagers answered their cell phones.
They found the boys’ bikes and shoes near the sand and began digging as they called for help. It reportedly took first responders half an hour to pull the youngsters out.
Family members said they were lifelong best friends and ‘bonded like siblings.’
‘These two boys shared a bond that went beyond friendship – they were inseparable, full of life, curiosity, and dreams for the future,’ said the joint GoFundMe post made in their honor.
Hubbard was unresponsive when help arrived and was pronounced dead in hospital.
George Watts (left) and Derick Hubbard died after a sand hole they had dug collapsed on them
Hubbard was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital in Florida
Watts was taken to hospital in critical condition and placed on life support after the accident
The boys were digging in the sand at Sportsman’s park in Inverness, central Florida
Watts was taken to hospital in critical condition and died Tuesday after his relatives agreed to take him off life support and donate his organs.
His mother, Jasmine, said on the fundraising site: ‘Our family is now navigating an overwhelming amount of grief, shock, and emotional pain while also facing unexpected expenses related to emergency response, medical care, funeral arrangements, and the many financial burdens that come with such a sudden tragedy.’
The families have already raised more than $30,000.
The eighth graders’ school also spoke on the boys’ deaths.
‘It is with great sadness that we inform our chargers community of a tragedy that occurred over the weekend involving two of our students in an off-campus incident,’ read the statement from Inverness Middle School.
Their football coach described the 14-year-olds as ‘old souls’ and said they were adventurous
The teenagers participated in many sports and had just won a local NFL championship
Watts (left) and Hubbard had been friends for years and spent a lot of time outdoors
‘This situation has deeply affected many within our school and district community.’
The school announced it would be providing a ‘district crisis support team’ which included counselors, psychologists and social workers to aid grieving students and staff.
Hubbard and Watts played several sports, were involved in school and played in the Citrus NFL Flag football league, where they had just won a championship.
They were reportedly beloved by their community and their peers.
Corey Edwards, their coach and mentor, told Fox13 the boys were ‘old souls.’
‘They were having fun, being adventurous, using their imagination,’ he said.
‘They’re doing things that we preach to kids that we want them to do and, unfortunately, this just turned into a tragedy.’
‘Our deputies, first responders, and victim advocates are committed to supporting the families and all those impacted,’ the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, which attended the incident, said.
‘Healing will take time, and no one should feel they must navigate that journey alone.
‘We are grateful for the compassion already shown by so many and encourage our community to continue lifting up these families with kindness, patience, and unity.’
