Toddler Tunneling in Newport Beach Sand Rescued by Arizona Beachgoer

Newport Beach, CA — One family owes a debt of gratitude to an Arizona man who found their child trapped under the sand, likely saving the boy's life.

A toddler, reported missing by his parents on Newport Beach, turned out to be trapped under the sand where he was last seen digging Saturday.

The OC Register reported that a bystander's quick thinking saved the 3-year-old, who was entrapped in the sand where he was last seen digging in a 3-foot deep hole.

Jesse Martin, an Arizona visitor to Newport Beach, overheard two women asking lifeguards to help them find the child. Martin reportedly focused on an area where kids were playing near the hole where the toddler was last seen and started digging. After a few large scoops of sand from the hole, Martin felt the child buried in the sand.

Martin told the OC Register that the boy was white and blue when he pulled him out of the sand. Two uncles, Steve and Stuart Frost, rushed over and started doing CPR and chest compressions and got the boy moving and breathing before the paramedics arrived.

Newport Beach Lifeguards were quick to the scene, according to Battalion Chief Brent Jacobsen.

"The boy had been 'tunneling' – digging one hole that connected to another hole – when it collapsed on top of him," Jacobsen stated.

The OC Register reports the boy was transported to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.

"Sand entrapment is a danger many beachgoers don’t know about," Jacobsen said.

Lifeguards caution against digging holes in the beach sand deeper than 1 foot. Also, digging a tunnel between holes and attempting to crawl through is dangerous.

“It is very easy to become entrapped,” he told the OC Register. “Sand can weigh several hundred pounds and you don’t even realize it.”