George Watts and Derrick Hubbard, Florida Teen Best Friends, Die After Sand Hole Collapse in Citrus County

Two 14-year-old best friends, George Watts and Derrick Hubbard, died after a sand hole they were digging collapsed and buried them alive at a Florida park, according to authorities and family members.

The tragic incident occurred Sunday at Sportsman Park in Inverness, located in Citrus County, where the boys had been digging a tunnel roughly five feet deep in the sand. Officials with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said the hole suddenly caved in, trapping both teens beneath the sand.

According to reports, the boys’ parents became alarmed after discovering their bicycles and shoes near the sandpit but could not find them. Fearing something was wrong, they contacted authorities and began digging themselves before first responders arrived.

Deputies, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel rushed to the park and worked frantically to rescue the teens. Less than an hour later, both boys were pulled from the collapsed hole, CPR was administered, and they were transported to a local hospital.

Authorities said Derrick Hubbard was pronounced dead on Sunday. George Watts remained hospitalized but later died on Tuesday afternoon. It remains unclear how long the boys were buried beneath the sand.

George’s mother, Jasmine Watts, described the teens as inseparable in a heartfelt GoFundMe statement created to help cover funeral and medical expenses.

“These two boys shared a bond that went beyond friendship — they were inseparable, full of life, curiosity, and dreams for the future,” she wrote. “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.”

She added that what should have been a normal day of childhood adventure turned into an unimaginable loss.

Both boys attended Inverness Middle School, which announced it would provide counseling services to students and staff in the wake of the tragedy.

“This situation has deeply affected many within our school and district community,” the school said in a statement.

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details. The incident highlights a recurring danger, as similar sand hole collapses have claimed the lives of children and teens in past years.