Boy, 13, dies after sand dune tunnel collapses on top of him as family and park rangers desperately try to dig him out

A TEEN boy has died after a sand dune unexpectedly collapsed on top of him.

Officials said Ian Spendlove, 13, had been digging a tunnel at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah when tragedy struck on Saturday evening.

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Ian Spendlove, 13, died after a sand dune tunnel in Utah unexpectedly collapsed[/caption]

The dune collapsed and trapped him underneath the sand.

A family member who saw the dune collapse notified park officials who frantically tried to find Spendlove, according to the Utah State Parks.

Crews rushed to the scene and found the teen around six-and-a-half feet beneath the sand.

A State Park law enforcement ranger and deputies from Kane County Sheriff’s Office used shovels to rescue the boy.

Spendlove was given CPR and the boy regained a pulse, according to Fox13.

He was taken to a local hospital via Life Flight before being transferred to Salt Lake City.

He was declared dead on Sunday after failing to regain brain activity, park officials said.

Tributes have been paid to the teen online.

One said: “I’m so sorry. Condolences to family and friends.”

Another posted: “Man how tragic. Condolences to the entire family.”

A third mourner commented: “Poor boy, rest in peace.”

It’s not the first time that tragedy has hit the park.

In 2018, a 13-year-old boy, of Eagle Mountain, was killed when the four-wheeler he was riding went over a dune and fell onto its side, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park features around 1,500 acres of sand dunes, officials revealed.

Park officials and the authorities are investigating the tragedy.