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 and his family were visiting Toms River from Maine, according to the Toms River Police Department. Caverly and his 17-year-old sister were using frisbees to dig a giant beach hole when the 10-foot hole collapsed.
Authorities were called to the scene around 4:00 p.m.
“Two people buried in the sand, a couple of feet,” one first responder could be heard saying at the scene.
“One is still buried up to the chest,” another first responder said. “Another one is below the sand.”
One first responder was heard saying, “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 free the trapped teens. 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.
Toms River Mayor Mo Hill said people need to “be mindful” when digging holes at the beach.
