Boy Involved In Long Branch Sand Collapse Dies in Hospital

JACA July 18, 2012 at 10:53 pm

You people are heartless!!! It was a freak accident and could happen to anyone. Be careful how you judge people, you don't want to find yourself in a similar situation.
My heartfelt prayers and compassion for the family.

just me July 18, 2012 at 10:54 pm

My heart hurts for this unfortunate young man and his family. May he rest in peace and may peace find its way to his family. You are not alone.

Toms River resident July 18, 2012 at 11:46 pm

very sad a young life lost make sure your children understand all of the dangers of the beach and ocean my heart goes out to the family

barbara July 18, 2012 at 11:59 pm

at this time we should all have a little compassion for the family and what they are going threw. A innocent life was taken by accident no one could predict this could happen. May g-d bless them all. may he rest in peace.,and may no one point fingers at anyone. bklyn ny

barbara July 19, 2012 at 12:00 am

I'm really upset and hurt by such a horrible tragedy. No one should see such a day

Keeping whats mine July 19, 2012 at 12:45 am

The most horrible tragic accident is the loss of a child. Teach your kids that tunnels in sand and snow are so very dangerous. The worst thing that can happen to a parent im sure. I am sorry for your loss

anonymous July 19, 2012 at 12:49 am

have some empathy for the family

Ingrid Spears July 19, 2012 at 01:09 am

Very sad. My sympathies to the family.

humankind July 19, 2012 at 01:23 am

Horrifying....so sorry for the victim and family.

JFC July 19, 2012 at 01:49 am

It was a tragic accident. I feel for the family. But under no circumstance should lifeguards be responsible for this. If the lifeguards are monitoring the sand, they aren't watching the ocean. Let them focus on the water.

Michelle July 19, 2012 at 02:47 am

What is with you people !! so heartless a mother just lost her child for god sakes!! who r any of you to judge . Things happen this was a freak accident ! I know these people are there a great family . It was no ones fault everything is in gods hands . So for all u people who don't have anything nice to say please keep your comments to yourself !!

lbbythesea July 19, 2012 at 03:07 am

prayers to the family...to the little brother who just wanted to play with his older brother...prayers to all those who tried to help save this little boy, on the beach and in the hospital...and prayers to the people who so easily judge...

Pat July 19, 2012 at 03:09 am

I so agree with you Raylin! Prayers for the family during this So difficult. May they look to God for strength & peace.

RobertTil July 19, 2012 at 10:12 am

Castles made of sand fade into the sea, eventually....

Lisa July 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm

It is a shame that our children cannot do all of the things that we use to do...build sandcastles or tunnels, snow forts, bike ride with their friends without us tracking their every move. These kids were trying to have innocent fun which is so unheard of anymore in this world we live in now ....This is heartbreaking and my sincere condolonces to the family. I can't imagine their pain and never hope to....People should watch their words and let a family grieve in peace...

Dga July 19, 2012 at 12:59 pm

People are always trying to put the blame on someone whenever something happens

Janine MIncieli July 19, 2012 at 01:52 pm

This story in particular is so heartbreaking. Like I told my 12 year old son, that family packed up their boogie boards, lunch and beach towels and headed to the ocean that morning with never a thought to any danger. How many of us live on the beach all summer and forget the dangers of the riptides, surfboards with out of control surfers riding RIGHT NEAR the young swimmers and most deadly of all.....the sand castle/tunnel. My heart bleeds for this poor family who never thought that their day at the beach would end like this.

DJGigs July 19, 2012 at 01:54 pm

Look . lets break this down.
1) There is a rule under chapter 9 "Communication's in the 2012 New jersey State life guard Administration Document that states . the following B. Superintendent and lifeguard officer must meet promptly to report, discuss and resolve: 1. A problem with a lifeguard that may require disciplinary action. 2. A serious incident in the bathing area or on the beach. 3. A safety hazard on the beach or in the bathing area. This includes beach and bathing area if I reasd this correctly When I was younger and LIVED on teh long branch beaches (BATH AVE) Each Guard station had THREE Guards,Two for the Bathing Area and one for the beach area. tehy constantly had peopel getting out of unprotected beaches (either side of jettys. Off teh Jettys if you werent fishing ..THEY WOULD COME OVER WITH SHOVELS AND FILL UP HOLES THAT HAD GOTTEN DUG THAT WERE DEEMED SAFETY HAZARDS. We even got repremanded by Skip. they went out of there way to explain hazards on the beach. I have found memories of learning these things and after a while you actually started to help them out by passing on this information to others . Many times we would wlak over to parents and say HEY that to deep or too big GET OUT it can collapse on you . 2) Parents .. Need to be more vigilent these days. I feel extremly bad for this woman and her huisband and family . I would bet regrets will be there for the rerst of there lives. I hope God shows them the way to peace. BUT.......

Paul July 19, 2012 at 03:20 pm

This was a tragic "ACCIDENT". This family must be suffering immeasuribly right now. Let us keep in mind when we are pointing fingers or should I spell it out for you? The victims family may be reading these articles. Have some manners and compassion. I don't know who these people are and it breaks my heart to read such sad news. Do we really need to make insensitive remarks at this time? You are free to write what you like, but if it were your family or relatives would you really want to read some of these comments? God Bless this family in their time of suffering.

DJGigs July 19, 2012 at 03:43 pm

Agree Paul .. Like I said I hope God shows them the way ..

Shore thing July 19, 2012 at 04:22 pm

"It takes a smart person to learn from one's OWN mistakes, but it takes a WISE person to learn from the mistakes of OTHERS". So people, please don't let your kids dig so deep in the sand. Several years ago a Monmouth University (then "College") was killed doing the same thing. And, I was at a NJ beach a couple of years ago with my boys, my sister, and her 5 boys. The boys dug a whole so deep that when one of my nephews went in, you couldn't even see the top of his head. I was the ONLY one who was concerned. It took me having to go to an available lifeguard to try and convince them it was dangerous. He told my nephew to get out immediately and for everyone to fill it in. He stood there and watched until it was done. I just recently sent my sister the article about the Oakhurst boy who tragically died. My sister is coming to visit our Mom who lives at the Jersey Shore from the Midwest again in 2 weeks with all 5 boys and we are of course are going to the
beach. Sigh. My youngest son is now 12. You think my sister would know a thing or two about sand considering we grew up at the Shore. We grew up in the same township where that 12 year old died lived. The mom must feel horrible. Bottom line - grab any available authority figure to help save a life. Turns out, I did NOT care that my sis and nephews put me down for getting help. If I had just stood and said nothing and then something happened, I would have had to live with that.

Kat July 19, 2012 at 08:02 pm

Are you kidding me? He was a 12 year old little boy digging a tunnel. You don't know what he was taught. Stop being so judgmental. My heart breaks for this family.

RoseBudd1255 July 19, 2012 at 10:05 pm

how insensitive!! how can anyone say such a thing like this. especially so soon after their childs' death? with these parents in mourning it was so cruel to make such a comment as this for all to see, like the parents of this child. just who are you to make such a judgement as this ever, and then so soon after the childs' passing?? you should be so ashamed of yourself!!!!

RoseBudd1255 July 19, 2012 at 10:27 pm

i am "so glad" we have such perfect parents as you and AnnMarie!! NOT!!!!!!! it is people like you who would be screaming INJUSTICE if this child were theirs. i just hope you can be cured of your problem before it is too late.

Thenews July 20, 2012 at 08:21 am

Believe it or not the City of Long Branch has an ordinance that deals with digging holes. Maybe it something the lifeguards/special officers should start to enforce. The law is on the book so why not use. Long Branch has a slew of ordinances for their beaches.
http://www.visitlongbranch.com/docs/citycodebook.pdf City Ordinance 116-5 O. No hole shall be dug in the public bathing beach in such a manner as to leave a depression more than 12 inches deep in the surface of the land.

Sha44ss July 20, 2012 at 02:05 pm

Things happen in a SPLIT second!! STOP judging - the parents will be second guessing themselves the rest of their lives! Things like this RIP families and PEOPLE APART! This little one is in HEAVEN with our FATHER where he came from and where he is at PEACE + does NOT wish to return ( i know i have BEEN there) -- it is WE who have to deal with the PAIN of not understanding and 'letting go' and LIVING every minute of our 'short' lives LOVING + HELPING OTHERS while we are here! REACH OUT to someone in PAIN everyday!!

JoanneKash July 21, 2012 at 06:50 pm

I do not believe that anyone is insensitive in this tragedy. I believe that people are upset because this was not, as some people have written, an accident. It could have been prevented if someone in charge was paying attention and stopped this child from digging this dangerous deep tunnel. Heartfelt sympathy for this child and his family.

Lou D. July 22, 2012 at 09:49 pm

PLEASE!!!!!! THIS IS A TRAGEDY AND PARENTS AND FAMILY HAVE LOST A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG BOY! AS A TRAUMA NURSE AND MOTHER OF 13 YR OLD BOY WHO LOVES THE BEACH, THEY DO THINGS THAT THEY THINK THEY ARE INVINCIBLE. YOU CAN TEACH ALL YOU WANT ..THEY WERE HAVING A FUN DAY AND NEVER WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN. WE PAY T BE ON THESE BEACHES AND SAFETY IS IMPERATIVE. LIFE GUARD/POLICE CAN SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING ON BEACHES AND JUST AS THEY RECOMMEND BE CAREFUL WITH RIPTIDES THEY CAN NOTIFY PUBLIC "NO SAND DIGGING--EDUCATE AND ASSIST THE PUBLIC" ...BE KIND WITH YOUR WORDS---
GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

chris July 23, 2012 at 06:44 pm

Shore thing is absolutely right. Apparently this happens every year -- kids being buried in the sand due to tunnels. The wet sand is too heavy often times to dig them out. It's a terrible, awful thing that happened to this boy & his family. I have young children and have definitely learned from this tragedy. My heart so goes out to this family.

Danielle August 6, 2012 at 05:18 am

I'm sitting here reading this as I'm on family vacation at the beach. How absolutely horrific. Honestly in this situation it is no one's "fault". Every single parent has taken their eyes off their school age child at some point. Any of those times could have resulted in a tragic life altering accident. Preventable or not. Accident. Dont judge because no parent is perfect and clearly she didn't hold her son under the sand while he suffocated. Someone said that it's not an accident because it was preventable. Preventable or not, when something happens and it resulted in something that was not done "on purpose"...it's an accident. Just remember next time your kids are outside and your reading a magazine or your sunbathing while your kids play or you text back a friend, your eyes are off your child just as much as hers were.