13-Year-Old Utah Boy Dies After Getting 'Trapped Underneath' Sand Dune That 'Unexpectedly Collapsed'

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.Photo: Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty

A teenager died after a sand dune “unexpectedly collapsed” on him at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park over the weekend, according to authorities.

The Utah teen, identified as 13-year-old Ian Spendlove of Santa Clara, became “trapped underneath the sand” around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Utah State Parks wrote in anews release.

“Park rangers believe he had been digging a tunnel in the side of a sand dune when it unexpectedly collapsed with him inside,” authorities said, noting that the incident occurred outside of the park’s campground area.

The teen was found “approximately 6-and-a-half-feet beneath the sand” around 5:53 p.m., authorities said.

“First responders administered CPR until additional emergency personnel arrived,” they added. “After confirming that Spendlove had a pulse, he was transported via Life Flight to St. George Regional Hospital and then to Primary Children’s Hospital.”

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The teen was declared dead on Sunday, as he “had not regained brain activity,” officials said.

Park officials went on to remind Utah State Parks visitors to make safety a “top priority.”

“Always recreate with a buddy, wear your life jackets and helmets, and always let somebody know where you are going and when to expect your return,” they wrote.

source: people.com