Parents of Teen in Beach Sand Collapse Says Son Now Happy With Jesus

The parents of the teenager who died in the beach sand collapse in New Jersey have spoken out about their loss and they believe that their son, Levi Caverly, is now smiling down in heaven, completely happy with Jesus Christ.

Todd and Angela Caverly, who are originally from Maine, are still trying to process the loss of their son but they are finding peace in the thought that Levi is in a good place despite his accident on Jersey Shore.

In a post on Facebook, Todd said that his son "knew Jesus Christ" and wasn't concerned if other people perceived him as odd and quirky. He also said that his son was aware of one's borrowed time on earth.

Mayor Maurice B. Hill, the mayor of Toms River, said that he cannot imagine the family's pain. He also understands the devastation of the rescue crew who tried to save Levi's life. Levi's 17-year-old sister, however, was saved from the beach sand collapse.

On Tuesday, May 17, the siblings were digging in the sand on Jersey Shore when they were both pulled into the pit. First responders took more than two hours to rescue the teenagers. Levi's sister had sand up to her neck, which was how she managed to survive but the boy was fully buried under the pile.

Levi's Mom: "It is what it is"

Angela said that they cannot change what happened to their son despite their heartbreaking loss. The family is leaning on their church in Maine for comfort in this challenging time. The mother, however, is grateful that their daughter is now doing better after her rescue and it was the 17-year-old who drove the family back home to Maine from Jersey Shore.

The Caverly family was visiting Toms River and rented property near the area when the kids wandered off to play in the sand. They used frisbees and started digging a hole about 10 feet deep.

Capt. Jonathan A. Rigolo of the rescue team told Today that digging on wet sand was risky because when it dries out, its consistency becomes granular and will likely collapse. He and his team often advise beachgoers to just dig no deeper than the depth of the knee of the smallest person in their group.

There are usually lifeguards in the area to remind the beachgoers. However, the Caverly family's visit was off-season, when there were fewer patrols on the beach.

13-year-old Dies in Sand Dune

The incident comes after a 13-year-old boy in Utah also died when a sand dune collapsed and buried him. Ian Spendlove was playing and digging a tunnel at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

Rescuers were not aware of how long Spendlove was trapped underneath but they were still able to take the boy out of the sand dune. They transported him to the Primary Children's Hospital but his tests no longer showed any brain activity, according to ABC News.

A spokesperson for the park agency extended their sympathies to the boy's family. They also reminded visitors to the state park to wear helmets and life jackets when exploring the sand dunes. They must also inform someone or go with a buddy if they plan to do some recreational activities in the area.