A devoted father of four has tragically lost his life after being buried beneath a collapsing sand dune while digging with his children.
According to heartbreaking reports, 28-year-old Kane Watson was spending the day at Muriwai Beach near Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday, August 23, accompanied by his 18-month-old daughter and three stepsons.
The New Zealand Herald reported that Kane — who was also joyfully awaiting the arrival of another baby — had been playing in the sand with the children when a large dune suddenly gave way. In a split second, it collapsed on top of him, trapping him headfirst and leaving him gasping and calling desperately for help.
His children, terrified and helpless, rushed to find assistance and alerted bystanders. Tragically, Kane is believed to have remained trapped beneath the sand for around 15 agonizing minutes before rescue teams managed to dig him out. He was rushed to Auckland City Hospital but, despite every effort, he passed away the following day, Sunday, August 24.
In the wake of the tragedy, University of Auckland lecturer Colin Whittaker spoke to RNZ, warning about the often-overlooked dangers of sand dunes.
“If you’ve got a big dune above you and a lot of that collapses, you’ve potentially got something that weighs as much as an elephant collapsing on top of you,” he explained. “That’s not only extremely dangerous, but once you’re buried, it’s nearly impossible to dig yourself out — especially if you’re already struggling to breathe.”
He added that rescue is equally difficult:
“As soon as you start digging, the sand falls back in. It’s incredibly challenging and terrifying to deal with.”
Meanwhile, a Givealittle fundraising page created by a family friend paints a picture of a man whose life revolved around love and family. Kane is described as a “much-loved son, brother, partner and, above all, a devoted father” — someone who cared not only for his own children but also for others’ children as though they were his own.
“Kane’s greatest joy was being with his kids,” wrote family friend Kristalle Tayler. “Family was always at the very center of who he was. Most heartbreakingly, his youngest child, due early next year, will never get the chance to meet him — but will grow up surrounded by stories of the incredible man who loved them before they were even born. The suddenness of this accident has left Kane’s family shattered.”
Kane’s sister Shaquille shared her own grief with local outlet Stuff, saying he was not only her brother but her “best friend and favorite person.”
“He was just an amazing dad,” Tayler echoed. “That’s what makes this so unbearably heartbreaking. All he ever wanted in life was to have his own family — and just as he finally had that, it was ripped away from him.”