Two 14-year-old best friends died in a tragic sand hole collapse at a Florida park, highlighting the deadly dangers of seemingly innocent outdoor play that parents across America must now confront.
Story Snapshot
- George Watts and Derrick Hubbard, both 14, died when their 4-5 foot deep sand tunnel collapsed at Inverness park
- The boys had been digging at the same spot for two weeks before the fatal collapse occurred
- Parents tracked their cellphones to locate them after the accident, finding only bikes and shoes
- First responders took 30-45 minutes to extract both boys from the unstable “sugar sand”
Tragic Discovery at Sportsman Park
On Sunday, January 11, 2026, lifelong best friends George Watts and Derrick Hubbard were buried alive when their hand-dug sand tunnel collapsed near Sportsman Park in Inverness, Florida. The Inverness Middle School students had spent two weeks creating an increasingly deep hole and tunnel system in the park’s sugar sand, reaching 4-5 feet deep before the unstable walls gave way around noon. Parents discovered the tragedy after tracking the boys’ cellphones and finding abandoned bikes and shoes at the site.
Emergency responders arrived at 12:44 p.m. and worked frantically for 30-45 minutes to extract both teenagers from the collapsed sand structure. Derrick Hubbard was found unresponsive with no pulse, while George Watts had a pulse but was unconscious and unable to breathe independently. Both boys were transported to HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, where Hubbard was pronounced dead that Sunday afternoon.
Community Loses Two Champions
The victims were more than just best friends—they were recent champions of the Citrus NFL Flag Football championship and active members of the 352 Legends program. Coach Corey Edwards described them as “old-school, old souls” who embodied the kind of outdoor adventure that youth programs encourage. Their tight-knit community knew them as inseparable companions who lived near each other and spent countless hours together exploring and playing outside.
George Watts was flown to UF Health Shands Gainesville in critical condition Sunday evening, clinging to life for two more days. On Tuesday morning at 4:25 a.m., Watts succumbed to his injuries, though his family chose to honor his memory through organ donation. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office confirmed no foul play was involved, ruling the incident a tragic accident caused by the instability of the dry sugar sand common to the region.
Warning Signs Parents Must Recognize
This heartbreaking incident exposes the hidden dangers of sand excavation that many parents don’t recognize. Safety experts warn that dry sand lacks cohesion beyond 2-3 feet deep, making deeper holes extremely dangerous without proper engineering support. The boys’ two-week digging routine at the same location created a false sense of security, as previous sessions without collapse masked the growing instability of their expanding tunnel system.
Inverness Middle School provided counselors throughout the week to help students process the loss of their classmates. The Sheriff’s Office requested community respect for the families’ privacy while they navigate their overwhelming grief. A GoFundMe established by the families described how “what should have been a childhood adventure turned into heartbreaking loss,” capturing the innocent nature of activities that can turn deadly without proper awareness of natural hazards.
Sources:
Two 14-year-old boys die after sand hole collapses at Inverness park
Hole collapses on Inverness Middle School students, killing 1, critically injuring 1: HCSO
Best friends die in Florida after sand hole traps them underground: Sheriff
