An Australian man has died after falling into a hole and being buried with sand on a Queensland beach.
Josh Taylor, 23, had been at a beach campground on Bribie Island on Saturday when he fell into the hole, which was reportedly dug to roast a pig.
Mr Taylor was taken to hospital shortly afterwards, but later died in a Brisbane hospital on Thursday.
Officers said an investigation into the “circumstances surrounding the incident” is underway. They appealed for witnesses to come forward, saying they believed there may be “numerous” people they had yet to speak to.
Mr Taylor was left seriously injured after falling head-first into the large hole he and his friends had dug to cook a pig at a campsite.
He was pulled from the hole unresponsive, with witnesses saying around 15 people were involved in the effort to dig him out.
Friends and an off-duty paramedic used rope tied to his feet to pull him free from the sand.
The site is located some 40 miles north of Brisbane.
Mr Taylor’s devastated relatives confirmed in a statement on Thursday that his life support had been switched off.
Relatives said: “He fought as hard as he could and is the most courageous person we will ever know.
“Unfortunately, the injuries he received were too severe for him to overcome. We will somehow find a way to move on from this terrible tragedy.”
A GoFundMe page established after the incident for Mr Taylor’s family paid tribute to him as a “vibrant and adventurous soul who has brought so much joy to those around him.”
To date, $66,465AUD has been raised, approximately £35,000.
