Buried alive: Man dies after 10ft hole he dug on beach collapses

Half Moon Bay Beach California Francisco
Half Moon Bay Beach California Francisco

A man has died after being buried alive in a 10ft beach hole he dug on a beach in California.

Adam Pye, 26, dug a hole on Francis State Beach 30 miles southwest of San Francisco, and became trapped after it collapsed on top of him.

The tragedy occurred at around 5.30pm on Monday at a campground area of the beach, about 10 to 15ft away from the water.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Captain Jonathan Cox told nola.com that around 30 people frantically tried to dig him out using their hands and buckets, and managed to free his head after about five minutes, just as firefighters arrived on the scene.

Mr Pye was already unconscious, and paramedics worked to open his airways.






Rescuers managed to free him from the pit after 35 minutes, and tried to revive him but he died at the scene.

Mr Pye, who recently graduated with a degree in communications, had gone to Half Moon Bay with friends just days before he was set to take a trip to New York.

His mother Debbie Pye told SFgate.com: "I know this will sound typical coming from his mum, but he really was the perfect child. He never had so much as a parking ticket.

"He took care of everyone including us. He was always helping people, it was just his way."



Related articles

Girl almost buried alive after digging a hole on Norfolk beach

Boy dies after suffocating in beach hole

Man Dies After Hole He Was Digging at Beach Collapses
Man Dies After Hole He Was Digging at Beach Collapses