Teen buried at beach almost drowns

The Associated Press

North Carolina officials are warning beachgoers about burying people in the sand after a 16-year-old nearly drowned when the tide came in over his head.

The Star-News of Wilmington reported that the teenager from New Jersey was buried neck-deep while sitting cross-legged in wet sand at Bald Head Island Sunday afternoon when the tide came in.

Public Safety Chief Chip Munna said beachgoers used plastic shovels to try to dig the boy out. He said bystanders created dams and sand walls to block the waves, and one person found a snorkel so the boy could breathe. Emergency personnel dug the boy out.

Munna said people buried in the sand should not be left alone, and that anyone playing in the sand should stay above the tide line.

Information from: The Star-News, http://starnewsonline.com