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Man almost buried alive after sand dune collapses

A walk on the beach was anything but relaxing for one Queensland man who was almost buried alive when he was swallowed by a sand dune.

The 29-year-old man’s desperate screams for help saved his life after a passer-by at a Hervey Bay beach heard him.

Just after 11am the man was walking along the dunes when the sand collapsed under his feet, burying him up to his neck.

A 29-year-old man was swallowed by a sand dune and buried up to his neck at a Hervey Bay beach. Source: 7 News
A 29-year-old man was swallowed by a sand dune and buried up to his neck at a Hervey Bay beach. Source: 7 News

Specialist rescuers were called in to free him. Trees were cut down and an excavator was used to move sand.

For four hours, they dug slowly and carefully around him.

Rescuers reassured the trapped man, and offered sips of water as they worked. Paramedics also administered fluids and pain relief.

Specialist rescuers dug around him slowly, and carefully, for four hours. Source: 7 News
Specialist rescuers dug around him slowly, and carefully, for four hours. Source: 7 News

Four hours later, he was stretchered to safety and taken to Hervey Bay hospital without serious injury.

The operation was so delicate for rescuers, because there was even more sand still above the man’s head, threatening to cover him completely, said Hervey Bay Police Acting Senior Sergeant Joshua Ryan.

“It’s quite a dangerous situation and the walls can collapse at any moment,” he said.

He was stretchered to safety and taken to Hervey Bay hospital without serious injury. Source: 7 News
He was stretchered to safety and taken to Hervey Bay hospital without serious injury. Source: 7 News

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Officer Scott Castree said rescuers couldn’t rush the operation.

“If any of that sand had of collapsed it could have been a different outcome to what’s happened today,” he said.

Exhausted, dehydrated and in pain, the man was lucky to be alive.