Teen Buried Alive in Sand Tunnel Tragedy on Italian Beach

A family holiday turned into tragedy after a 17-year-old boy was buried alive and suffocated in a sand tunnel collapse on a beach in north-west Italy.

Riccardo Boni was on vacation with his family at Montalto di Castro beach when the tunnel he had dug suddenly gave way, trapping him under the sand with no time to call for help. His father, who was just metres away, said his son “didn’t even have time to scream.”

“It was horrible. Riccardo was 1.75 meters tall, the hole was about 1.5 meters deep. His head was still above the surface,” the grieving father told Corriere Della Sera. “I don’t know if it was the heat or exhaustion, but at some point, he must have lost consciousness.”

Emergency services, including an air ambulance, rushed to the scene but were unable to save the teenager in time. A section of the beach has since been cordoned off by police as investigations continue.

The incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of digging deep holes or tunnels in sand, especially in high-traffic public areas like beaches.

The Boni family, now left devastated, is being supported by local authorities. Riccardo’s death has sparked an outpouring of condolences online, with many urging beachgoers to be mindful of safety when playing or digging in the sand.