A young father tragically lost his life in front of his children after a sand dune suddenly collapsed on him during a family outing at Muriwai Beach, northwest of Auckland, New Zealand.
Kane Watson, 28, was spending the afternoon of Saturday, August 23, at the beach with his 18-month-old daughter and three stepsons when the fatal accident happened around 5:00PM local time, per News.com.au.
According to reports from Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and the New Zealand Herald, Watson had been digging into the sand with the kids when the dune gave way, trapping him underneath.
Witnesses described a chaotic and desperate scene, as Watson’s children screamed for help while trying to free him from the collapsed dune.
A woman who was nearby told the New Zealand Herald that she and her husband rushed to assist after a child called out to them.
“We were on the side of a steep, soft sand dune just above the estuary, which made it extremely difficult to balance,” she said, adding that Watson was completely buried.
According to the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Watson had been buried headfirst and remained trapped for about 15 minutes.
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Despite the arrival of emergency responders, including a helicopter team and ambulance from Helensville, Watson succumbed to his injuries the next day at Auckland City Hospital.
A spokesperson from St John told Stuff that emergency teams had responded to a “cave-in, resulting in the person being buried.”
Watson’s sudden death has devastated his family and the wider community. A fundraiser launched on Givealittle by family friend Kristalle Tayler has raised thousands to support funeral expenses and other costs.
“What began as a fun afternoon at Muriwai Beach turned into tragedy when a sand dune collapsed on Kane while he was digging and playing with his kids,” Tayler wrote on the fundraising page.
“In seconds, laughter turned to panic as his family witnessed the unimaginable unfold before their eyes. Despite the incredible efforts of rescue teams and doctors, Kane tragically passed away from his injuries.”
Watson, remembered as a “much-loved son, brother, partner and, above all, a devoted father,” was also expecting a new baby early next year.
“His greatest joy was being with his children — not only his own, but also the kids he cared for and loved as if they were his own. Family was always at the very center of who he was,” Tayler wrote.
“Most heartbreakingly, his youngest child, due early next year, will never get to meet him, but will grow up hearing stories of the incredible man who loved them before they were born,” she continued. “The suddenness of this accident has left Kane's family shattered.”
Watson’s sister, Shaquille, also spoke to Stuff, calling him her “best friend” and saying the loss had “completely shattered her.”
“He was just an amazing dad,” Tayler added. “I guess that's where it's just the most heartbreaking thing. All he ever wanted was to have his own family, and it really does feel like the minute he got there, it was ripped away from him.”
The incident has also sparked calls for greater awareness around the dangers posed by sand dunes.
University of Auckland civil engineering lecturer Dr. Colin Whittaker told RNZ and the Otago Times that the general public needs to better understand how unstable sand structures can be.
“If you've got a big dune above you and a lot of that collapses, you've potentially got something that weighs as much as an elephant collapsing on top of you,” he said. “That's obviously very damaging, but also pretty hard to dig yourself out of, especially if you're struggling for air.”
Dr. Whittaker explained that sand dunes can give way quickly due to various triggers — such as wave action, foot traffic, vehicles, or digging. Rescuing someone buried in sand is an incredibly difficult task.
“As soon as you start trying to dig someone out, as you dig a hole, the sand fills it back in. It's incredibly challenging to do,” he said.
“As we come into summer, there will hopefully be public awareness campaigns about the risks of drowning to try to save more lives and keep people safe on the beafch or in the river,” he added. “I’d like some messaging about sand dunes – or just sand in general – not being particularly stable, tacked onto the back of that.”
At the time of writing, the fundraiser for Watson’s family had reached $18,000 of its $10,000 goal.