UK NEWS
FATHER DIGS WITH HIS BARE HANDS AS SON DIES IN SAND
The beach
Tuesday August 5,2008
By Paul Broster
A teenage holidaymaker died when he was buried alive on a beach in front of his horrified parents.
The 16-year-old – named only as Chris – was walking through a giant sand dune tunnel created by him and his friends when it suddenly collapsed on him.The boy’s father used his hands in a desperate bid to free him as his frantic mother cried out for her entombed son to dig.
When he was pulled free by rescuers 20 minutes later, however, he was found to have suffocated.Last night, police were probing the tragedy at popular Cefn Sidan beach, near Llanelli, South Wales.Fourteen youngsters who had met while on holiday spent hours on Sunday burrowing the 15ft tunnel into rain-soaked sand dunes.It was so high they could walk through from one end to the other. But when Chris was part way along, it toppled on him.
Wet sand makes it easier for tunnelling
David Hughes, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard
He and his family, from Wrexham, were staying at a nearby caravan site. After the tunnel collapse, the parents were heard screaming: “Come on Chris. Help dig yourself out.” They were also joined in the bid to save him by his aunt and uncle.Rescuers said that Chris’s head and arms eventually emerged but he was unconscious after tons of sand crashed down on him.John Jones, station manager at Burry Port Coastguard, said: “The whole family were around. "Everyone was shouting. When we got to the area, his friends had uncovered his head. Then we concentrated on uncovering his torso. The problem was the weight of sand on his body and all our efforts went into getting the sand away from his chest
“The family were shouting at him to help himself, believing that he was conscious and able to help us. They were hysterical. There was a lot of crying and screaming.”Mr Jones added: “The sand would have been wet and firm to begin with but, once the tunnel was dug, air would have got in and dried it out and that is why it collapsed.” The boy was taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea by air ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival. His parents returned to the eight-mile stretch of beach yesterday, accompanied by police, to lay flowers at the spot where their son died.Lifeguards’ beach flags were flying at half-mast and teenagers left bunches of flowers.One note read: “I will always remember you and your cheeky smile.”David Hughes, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: “Unfortunately children don’t see the peril. People think the sea is the danger when they are at the beach – but sand can be a killer too. “Wet sand makes it easier for tunnelling. But sand is unstable and heavy and can collapse at any time.” Mother-of-three Pam Johnson, 41, said: “We were on the beach when everyone suddenly started running towards the dunes. The boy’s father and lots of other people were trying to dig him out. I couldn’t watch.”
Source: www.dailyexpress.co.uk
