Teen, 17, who died on Italian beach after being buried alive when sand tunnel collapsed pictured
Riccardo Boni, 17, choked to death when a sand tunnel he built collapsed on him on a beach in north-west Italy.
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Riccardo was on holiday with his family from Rome when he dug the one and a half meter deep hole at the Montalto di Castro beach.
Emergency services were called to reports of the lifeless teenager who was visually impaired.
His five-year-old brother reportedly raised the alarm, screaming to his mum: "Riccardo is under the sand."
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 die of suffocation."
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.
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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."
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