Photo: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images
A adolescente died after a sand dune unexpectedly collapsed on him.
Authorities said that Ian Spendlove, of 13 years, had been digging a tunnel at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah when the tragedy occurred on Saturday night.
The dune collapsed and trapped him under the sand.
A family member who saw the dune collapse notified park officials who frantically tried to find Spendlove , according to Utah State Parks.
Crews rushed to the scene and they found the teen about six and a half feet under the sand.
A State Park Law Enforcement Rangers and Sheriff’s Office Deputies of Kane County used shovels to rescue the boy.
Spendlove received cardiopulmonary resuscitation and recovered his pulse, according to the Fox network13.
He was taken to a hospital by air, before being flown to Salt Lake City.
He was pronounced dead on Sunday after failing to regain brain activity, park officials said.
Tributes have been paid to the teenager online.
One said: “I’m so sorry. My condolences to family and friends.”
Another posted: “Man, how tragic. Condolences to the whole family”.
A third mourner commented: “Poor boy, rest in peace”.
It is not the first time that tragedy strikes the park.
In 2018, a 13-year-old boy from Eagle Mountain was killed when the four-wheeler he was riding ran over a dune and fell on its side, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park features about 1,500 acres of sand dunes, authorities revealed. Park officials and authorities are investigating the tragedy.
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