As we approach the summer, millions will be flocking to beaches for fun in the sun. We are often cautious about sunburns and water safety, but parents likely don’t focus too much on keeping our kids safe from the sand. As one family from Chesapeake, Virginia, learned, however, sand can be deadly.
A 17-year-old boy died in a tragic accident recently at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Frisco, North Carolina. While playing in the sand, the teen reportedly dug a large hole that collapsed. He was trapped under several feet of sand and ultimately lost his life. Now, the National Park Service has issued a warning about playing in dunes.
More from CafeMom: 12 Beach Tips for Parents Who Hate Sand but Love the Ocean
Dispatchers received a call around 2 p.m. Saturday about an emergency at the beach.
According to the release, Seashore law enforcement responded to an emergency call about a teen trapped in a hole in a back dune area not visible from the beachfront. Before the rangers arrived, the teen’s family looked for him but could not find him. They soon realized he was trapped under the sand and tried to dig him out, but they couldn’t.
Rangers and EMS attempted CPR but could not resuscitate the teen.
As the family and rangers attempted to pull the teen from the sand, they simultaneously tried to perform CPR, but their efforts were unsuccessful, and the teen died.
“Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers our condolences to his family and friends,” David Hallac, superintendent, National Parks of Eastern North Carolina, expressed in a release. “We urge visitors not to dig deep holes on the beach due to the danger they present to beachgoers and emergency response staff.”
The incident is under investigation.
The teen is not the first to die in a dune collapse.
There are reports of people dying in sand dune accidents every summer. And it’s not just children. Adults are victims of nature as well.
In August 2022, a 35-year-old man in Florida was taking photographs of the sunset) when a dune he was sitting beneath collapsed and killed him.
In 2018, a 12-year-old boy was killed when a dune he was digging in collapsed and buried him alive.
Sand can be more dangerous than many of us realize.
Many people simply don’t realize the dangers that sand poses. Most think it is a fun thing to play one, but sand can be deadly. Because sand is subject to the hot sun, it can easily reach high temperatures that can cause injuries such as burns and blisters, the National Park Service notes. Additionally, dunes can collapse, sand can blow in high winds, and insects and animals can hide inside.
“In summer months, plan to explore the dunes in early morning or evening to avoid a dangerous 150 degree F sand surface or thunderstorms,” the park service suggests.
More from CafeMom: 10 Types of Moms You Meet When You Hit the Beach
Practice sand safety.
A sandy beach is a fun place for families to play, and there are definitely ways to do so safely. The health care company Hoag warns that sand is heavy and dangerous.
“One cubic foot of sand weighs 100 pounds. Please be aware that deep sand holes and tunnels WILL collapse. Stay out of deep holes and avoid digging or tunneling for your own safety. If you are inside a tunnel and it collapses, you can easily become trapped,” Hoag notes.
To stay safe, the company recommends beachgoers never dig deeper than their knees, never put their head below the level of the sand, and avoid digging into the side of a berm, which can easily collapse.
