An 18-year-old boy was killed Tuesday at the Jersey shore after he and his sister built a large sand hole that collapsed on them, according to authorities.
Levi Caverly was visiting Toms River in Ocean County with his family from Maine, according to the Toms River Police Department. Caverly and his 17-year-old sister were digging a massive beach hole using frisbees when suddenly the 10-foot hole collapsed, according to ABC 6.
Authorities were called to the scene around 4:00 p.m. (RELATED: 2 Teen Brothers Drown In Lake Michigan, 2 Friends Rescued By Bystanders)
“Two people buried in the sand, a couple feet,” one first responder was heard saying at the scene, according to ABC 6.
“One is still buried up to the chest,” another first responder reportedly said. “Another one is below the sand.”
One first responder reportedly said, “one is completely submerged under the sand, probably approximately 10 feet.”
Emergency crews from several areas used buckets of water, ladders, bulldozers and other machinery to rescue the trapped teens, according to the report. Authorities were able to successfully rescue Caverly’s sister, who was treated at the scene, but Caverly “tragically died in the collapse,” according to police.
This is 18-year-old Levi Caverly of Maine. @TomsRiverPolice: Caverly was digging a hole at the beach w/ his sister when sand collapsed over them. Caverly was deeper in the hole than his 17-year-old sister, who was pulled out alive. Crews recovered his body. @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/EGhklRocxA
— Melissa Colorado (@melissacolorado) May 18, 2022
Toms River Mayor Mo Hill said people need to “be mindful” when digging holes at the beach, according to NBC Philadelphia.