Derrick Hubbard Jr. and George Watts were playing in a sandpit together when they suddenly got trapped. They both tragically passed away. Shortly after, police shared the disturbing body cam footage from the desperate rescue mission – and the parents’ reaction when they realized what had happened.
What should have been an ordinary afternoon for two teenage friends turned into a horrifying rescue operation. It ended in tragedy when two 14-year-old boys became trapped beneath a huge amount of sand at a Florida sandpit.
Derrick Hubbard Jr. and George Watts were playing together near Sportsman’s Park in Inverness on January 11 when they disappeared, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
When the boys didn’t come home for lunch, their families began thinking something was wrong. One parent eventually went to the sandpit to search for them but found only their bicycles and shoes.
A responding officer from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said the family made a frantic call to emergency services for help. Firefighters quickly began digging through the sand, desperately trying to locate the missing teenagers.
After around 20 minutes, they found George. He was still alive and had a pulse; however, he was unconscious and unable to breathe on his own. Rescuers pulled Derrick from the sand shortly after. But sadly, he was unresponsive and had no pulse.
So what happened? Later, authorities determined that the boys had dug a hole roughly four to five feet deep before it collapsed around them.
Bodycam footage shows parents’ reaction after boys are trapped under sand
They are believed to have been trapped beneath the sand for between 30 and 60 minutes.
The rescue was captured on body camera, including the devastating moment the boys’ parents realized just how serious the situation was. The footage shows their desperate reactions as firefighters worked to pull their children from the collapsed sandpit.
The boys reportedly dug tunnels and positioned themselves inside while working. The tunnels eventually collapsed, leaving them trapped beneath the sand with no way to escape.
Eventually, investigators recovered more heartbreaking footage from one of the boys’ phones. It showed the two friends digging a hole and playing together shortly before the tragedy.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office later shared a message of support for the families.
“Our hearts are with both families as they grieve the tremendous loss of their sons,” they wrote. “We hope the community will continue to respect their privacy and unite in remembering and celebrating both boys.”
“Shared a bond that went beyond friendship”
George’s stepmother, Jasmine Watts, also thanked people for supporting the family during the devastating time.
“Our sweet boy is so deeply loved, beyond words, and that love will always carry him,” she said, per People Magazine.
Later, a GoFundMe was set up to support the family in what was described as an “unimaginable nightmare for every parent.”
“In a tragic accident, we lost our oldest son, George Watts, and his best friend, Derrick Hubbard. These two boys shared a bond that went beyond friendship—they were inseparable, full of life, curiosity, and dreams for the future,” it read.
“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.”
It continued, “We are sharing our story not only to honor George and Derrick, but to ask for support during this devastating time. Any donation—no matter the amount—will help ease the financial strain on our families and allow us the space to grieve, heal, and focus on supporting our children as we try to move forward without two bright lights who meant everything to us.”
Rest in peace, George and Derrick. Our thoughts are with their loved ones.
Read more:
