Celebration of Life held in Gainesville for 2 teen boys after sandpit collapsed

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - A Celebration of Life is being held in Gainesville on Wednesday for two Citrus County teen best friends who died in a freak accident.

According to Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies, George Watts, 14, and Derrick Hubbard, 14, were digging a hole in a sandpit on Sunday near Sportsman’s Park in Inverness when it suddenly collapsed on them.

Upon arriving at the scene, Hubbard’s mother found the teens’ shoes and bikes outside the sandpit before they started calling for help and law enforcement.

According to deputies, they began digging.

Watts was alive with a pulse when found, but he wasn’t conscious or breathing on his own.

He was also taken to HCA Citrus before he was flown to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where he was pronounced dead Tuesday Morning.

Hubbard was found unresponsive, without a pulse, and CPR was administered.

He was taken to HCA Citrus, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Citrus County Education Foundation has created a memorial fund for the two boys’ families.

The Celebration of Life is being held on the 10th floor of Shands at 11 a.m. on Wednesday; all are welcome.

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