Riccardo Boni, 17, choked to death when a sand tunnel he built collapsed on him at Montalto di Castro beach in north-west Italy on Thursday afternoon.
The visually impaired teenager from Rome was on holiday with his family when he dug a one and a half metre deep hole that tragically caved in, burying him alive. Emergency services were unable to save him despite a frantic 40-minute rescue effort involving his father, lifeguards and other beachgoers.
His five-year-old brother reportedly raised the alarm after witnessing the collapse, repeatedly screaming to his mother: “Riccardo is under the sand.” The tragedy has left the local community in shock, with all public events cancelled as a mark of respect.
Fatal Tunnel Collapse
The incident occurred around 3pm local time on Thursday, 10 July, at the public beach near Camping California in Montalto di Castro, approximately 70 miles north of Rome. Riccardo had been digging with his two younger brothers whilst their father rested under a nearby umbrella.
A swimmer who witnessed the tragedy told local news: “He had built a tunnel. He wanted to enter from one side and exit from the other. But as he passed through, when he reached the centre, everything collapsed and the hole was completely covered.”
The witness added: “You couldn’t see anything anymore; you could have walked right through it and not noticed a thing.” The sand had completely filled the collapsed tunnel, leaving no visible trace of the disaster.
Silent Tragedy Unfolds
Another local witness emphasised the terrifying speed of the collapse, noting there were no screams or sounds as the boy was buried “in a matter of moments.” The witness explained the deadly nature of such accidents.
“When the sand closes in on you, it’s incredibly heavy,” he told reporters. “It doesn’t even let a little oxygen in, and it’s not easy to extract people because it tends to collapse. A few minutes later, they die of suffocation.”
The teenager’s father, who had been dozing under a beach umbrella following lunch, only realised his son was missing when he awoke. The family initially could not locate Riccardo, leading to a desperate search along the beach.
Desperate Rescue Attempt
It took approximately 40 minutes before the five-year-old brother’s repeated cries that “Riccardo is under the sand” were finally heeded. The father, along with two lifeguards and other vacationers, began digging frantically with their bare hands at the spot indicated by the young child.
Rescuers had to remove more than a quintal of sand before they could locate Riccardo’s body. The hole had been approximately five feet deep, with the teenager’s height recorded as five foot seven inches.
Police and an air ambulance were called to the scene. Despite paramedics’ best efforts to revive him, Riccardo was pronounced dead at the beach. First responders found the teenager’s glasses, T-shirt and flip-flops next to the collapsed hole.
Mayor Expresses Shock
Montalto Mayor Emanuela Socciarelli told ANSA news agency: “A tragedy that has left us all shocked. It’s unthinkable that a young man could lose his life in this way.”
She added: “I want to offer my sincere condolences to this family, to whom we are all truly deeply connected.” The mayor described it as “a cursed day” and said she had never heard of such an incident occurring before.
Socciarelli revealed that even police officers and volunteers from the local Misericordia organisation were visibly shaken by the tragedy. “I cannot think that he died down there like a trapped rat,” she said, expressing the community’s collective grief.
Community Mourns
All public events scheduled for Friday, 11 July, were suspended as the town joined “in silent embrace with the family.” The local authorities issued a formal statement expressing their condolences.
“Deepest condolences for the tragic passing of the young man,” the statement read. “In such a time of great grief, we extend our deepest sympathies to the boy’s parents and family, affected by this terrible tragedy.”
The community of Montalto di Castro cancelled a cultural event called “Il tramonto degli Etruschi” (The Sunset of the Etruscans) as a mark of respect. “We don’t feel up to it after this tragedy,” the mayor explained.
Family Holiday Turns to Tragedy
Riccardo had travelled from Rome to Camping California two days before the incident to spend the summer holidays with his parents and siblings. The family included his 14-year-old sister and two younger brothers, aged five and eight.
The teenager, who was visually impaired, had been enjoying a typical beach day with his family. He had gone swimming earlier in the day before beginning to dig in the sand during the afternoon.
His father later told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: “Riccardo was 5 foot, 7 inches. The hole was about 5 feet deep. His head was sticking out. And yet, I don’t know if it was the heat or the fatigue, at a certain point, he must have collapsed.”
Investigation Launched
Local authorities have opened an investigation “against persons unknown regarding the fatal accident.” The public prosecutor has ordered an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death, though authorities are still deciding whether to proceed with the examination.
Carabinieri from the Tuscania company and local police officers isolated the area and interviewed witnesses to reconstruct the exact dynamics of the incident. The teenager’s body was transferred to Montalto di Castro cemetery and placed at the disposal of judicial authorities.
A senior emergency responder told local media: “I have spoken to colleagues and we have never heard of anything like this happening before in Italy. We deal with terrible situations all the time but we can’t imagine how a game on the beach ended up this way.
Beach Safety Warnings
The tragedy has highlighted the hidden dangers of digging deep holes in sand, a common beach activity enjoyed by children and teenagers worldwide. Experts warn that sand can collapse without warning, particularly when tunnels are involved.
The weight of collapsing sand makes escape virtually impossible, and the complete burial prevents any oxygen from reaching the victim. The silent nature of such collapses means bystanders may be completely unaware of the emergency.
Safety advocates emphasise that holes deeper than knee height pose significant risks, and tunnels should never be attempted due to their inherent instability. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a fun beach activity can turn deadly.
Grieving Father’s Anguish
In a heart-wrenching interview with Corriere della Sera, Riccardo’s father expressed his torment over the tragedy. “And he didn’t even have time to scream. Why didn’t he scream? Why didn’t I hear him?” the grieving father wondered.
He explained that he had kept his younger children within sight, approximately six to ten feet away, whilst Riccardo continued digging. The father’s anguish was compounded by the fact that the collapse occurred silently and swiftly.
The family is expected to require significant psychological support to process the incomprehensible loss. Local authorities have indicated that assistance will be made available to help them cope with the tragedy.
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