A 17-year-old boy has died on a beach after being buried alive in a hole in the sand.

 

The teenager, knowns as Riccardo B., suffocated to death after the sand from a tunnel he had built collapsed on him on a beach in north west Italy.

 

A swimmer who was nearby at the time of the incident told local news: “He had built a tunnel. He wanted to enter from one side and exit from the other.

 

“But as he passed through, when he reached the centre, everything collapsed and the hole was completely covered.

 

“You couldn’t see anything anymore; you could have walked right through it and not noticed a thing.”

 

Another local added that there were no screams or sounds as the boy was buried “in a matter of moments”.

 

He said: “When the sand closes in on you, it’s incredibly heavy.

 

“It doesn’t even let a little oxygen in, and it’s not easy to extract people because it tends to collapse. A few minutes later, they di£ of suffocation.”

 

Emergency services were called yesterday, July 10, to reports of the lifeless teenager on Montalto di Castro beach, on the border of the Tarquinia region.

 

 

 

Riccardo was on holiday with his family from Rome when he dug the one and a half meter deep hole, near the campsite.

 

He was initially with his two younger siblings, aged 3 and 8, who then wandered off while their dad was taking a nap.

 

An urgent hunt for the teenager was launched at around 3pm when the family discovered he was missing.

 

The dad, swimmers and lifeguards began furiously digging while they waited for emergency services to arrive.

 

Police and an air ambulance were called to help pull the boy from the sand but despite paramedics best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Montalto Mayor Emanuela Socciarelli told ANSA: “A tragedy that has left us all shocked.

 

“It’s unthinkable that a young man could lose his life in this way.

 

“I want to offer my sincere condolences to this family, to whom we are all truly deeply connected.”

 

All public events have been suspended today to “join in silent embrace with the family”.

 

Local authorities said: “Deepest condolences for the tragic passing of the young man. In such a time of great grief, we extend our deepest sympathies to the boy’s parents and family, affected by this terrible tragedy.

 

“As a sign of respect, all public events scheduled for Friday, July 11, are suspended. The community of Montalto joins in silent embrace with the family.”