Children should be warned about the potential hazards of digging tunnels into sand dunes, an inquest into the death of a 16-year-old boy was told today.
Craig Owen, from Brymbo in Wrexham, suffocated when he was trapped under tonnes of sand on Cefn Sidan beach in Pembrey, south-west Wales, during a family holiday in August.
Speaking after the coroner's court hearing, Professor Kenneth Pye, an independent forensic geologist, called for an urgent nationwide alert to warn young adults and children of the dangers of excavating tunnels under dunes.
"I think it is an urgent matter and that something should be done as soon as possible," he said.
Warning signs should be put up on beaches around the UK before next summer, he said. More people died as a result of sand collapses than shark attacks in the US between 1990 and 2006, he said.
Frantic efforts were made to free Craig when the tunnel collapsed on August 3, the inquest in Llanelli town hall, south Wales, was told.
The schoolboy had been playing with more than a dozen children at the popular resort, which is dotted with giant sand dunes.
The Llanelli coroner, John Owen, recorded a verdict of accidental death. Tributes were paid to the teenager, who was tipped to get top grades in his school exams. Neither of his parents, Jayne or Ron Owen, attended the inquest.
Inspector Owain Richards, of Dyfed Powys police, said Craig Owen and four other youths had decided to dig a hole in a dune using folding metal shovels.
After excavating the first hole to a depth of 3m (10ft), a second hole was started nearby. It was then decided to link the two holes.
A connecting tunnel was dug and Craig continued digging inside and was almost able to stand up.
Chris Brown, 18, one of the teenagers who dug in the dune, told police of the efforts to save his friend.
"The sand above the tunnel collapsed and caved in on top of Craig. The boys frantically used their hands to dig him out and after a few minutes they managed to get to the back of his head.
"They eventually managed to free the sand away from around his shoulders before the emergency services arrived."
When rescuers arrived, the teenager's body was quickly freed. He was airlifted to Morriston hospital in Swansea, where he was pronounced dead.
