A 25-year-old Australian man passed away five days following a beach accident on December 2, 2023, where he was buried alive under about five feet of sand on a beach of Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, Australia.
The unusual incident occurred when Josh Taylor fell into a hidden sand pit that had been dug to cook a pig beneath the sand.
The sand under Taylor began to collapse, entrapping him and sending him headfirst into the hole. Over 15 people frantically dug to free him, including friends, family, and beachgoers, struggling against the shifting sand and the pit’s depth.
Rescuers used a rope to pull him from the hole. Once he was extracted, he was in dire need of medical attention. Despite the immediate administration of CPR by those present and the use of a defibrillator by park rangers, his pulse did not return for 45 minutes. He was airlifted to a hospital, where he continued to fight for his life and lost the fight on December 7.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with Taylor’s medical expenses and support his family. The campaign aims to raise $60,000.
The Queensland Ambulance Service commended the bystanders for their life-saving first aid, emphasizing that their actions were crucial in attempting Taylor’s survival.
Sand, while seemingly harmless, can pose significant risks due to its shifting and unstable nature. Dr. Bradley Maron, who has researched sand-burial incidents, underscores this point. He has documented over 50 cases of sand-related accidents, highlighting that these rare occurrences can be extremely dangerous.
The Taylor family, amidst this ordeal, has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and the efforts of those who helped during the incident.