THOMS RIVER, New Jersey (WPVI) – An 18-year-old Maine man on vacation with his family off the coast of Jersey was killed after he and his sister were trapped while digging a large hole in the sand, police said.
Police and emergency services were called shortly after 4pm Tuesday at the entrance to the beach on Toms Island, Ocean County, near Seaway Road, to alert two teenagers trapped in the sand.
The Thoms River Police Department said 18-year-old Levi Coverley and his 17-year-old sister used frisbees to dig a 10-foot hole when it collapsed.
“Two people buried in the sand a few feet away,” the first person in charge was heard calling from the scene.
“One is still buried next to his chest. Another is under the sand,” said another first responder.
Emergency crews arrived, including some from neighboring cities. They used buckets of water, ladders, bulldozers and other heavy machinery in an effort to free the teenagers.
“One is completely submerged in the sand, probably about 10 feet,” said one.
The 17-year-old sister was rescued and found on the spot, police said, but Levy died in the collapse.
On Wednesday morning, Levi’s father, Todd Coverley, issued a statement recalling his son as a technology lunatic with a love of music.
“Levi was himself. It was weird. It was weird. He didn’t really care what others thought. He knew Jesus Christ. He was a member of the church worship team and was a drummer in a teen / young adult worship group. He was technically crazy and loved to program. The truth is that Scripture says that all our days are numbered. That there is nothing we can do to add an hour to our lives. He knew that, “the statement said.
Authorities told ABC News they had seen dozens of similar cases in the past few decades in states such as California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and North Carolina.
Just last weekend, a 13-year-old boy was killed after being caught in the sand at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah.
Park rangers believed the 13-year-old was digging a tunnel on the side of a sand dune.
Authorities said the general rule is not to dig a hole that is deeper than your knees.
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