Kids were digging sand caves at Marina Dunes beach in Marina, California, in July 2013. Then the walls of one cave suddenly gave way, and five-year-old Alyssa Bostic, who had crawled inside, was buried under the sand.
The nearest adults were at least a quarter mile away. The only one close enough to help was 11-year-old Connor Fitz-Gerald. He had never been trained in CPR, and what he knew, he had learned from watching the TV crime drama NCIS.
What did Connor do?
Alyssa had been buried for several minutes. When Connor reached her, her body was limp, and sand filled her eyes and mouth. He dug her out, pulled her free and started CPR.
Alyssa’s father called 911. When paramedics arrived several minutes later, officials said the girl survived only because Connor acted so fast, KSBW reported.
Connor’s father, Tim, was proud. “I know we’re at least a quarter of a mile away, I need to do something,” he said, describing what his son must have been thinking.
When reporters asked him about it later, Connor put it simply: “I was there by myself and I dug her out and performed CPR on her.”
Read More: Teen Lifeguard’s First Rescue Came in 10-Foot Waves. He Never Let Go
How was Connor honored?
Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado planned to honor Connor at the next city council meeting. On Veterans Day in 2013, Connor, then 12, received the National Youth Hero Award from a local unit of the American Legion Auxiliary. It was the first time that unit had given the award. “It’s one that our auxiliary has never awarded before, so it’s a very special award,” a chapter leader said.
Why are sand holes so dangerous?
Sand hole collapses are rare, but they can kill. A 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 52 cases. Most were in the United States, with a few in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Thirty-one of those people died, which is 60%. The victims were between 3 and 21 years old, and their average age was 12. Many of the survivors needed CPR from a bystander.
Sand looks solid, but even a small bump can make a wall slide in. Once it falls, the sand packs tightly around the body, which makes it very hard for the person or rescuers to dig out.
The weight of the sand is the real danger. Wet sand can weigh up to 130 pounds per cubic foot, Slate reported. The packed sand squeezes the chest, so the person cannot breathe in. A 2004 Mayo Clinic report on two boys who died after being buried in sand found no sand in their airways. They could not breathe at all because of the pressure on their chests.
Can kids really learn CPR?
Yes, and younger than many parents might think. A study in the journal Resuscitation found that children as young as 9 can learn basic life support skills. A 2022 review found that CPR training at school helped teens learn both the facts and the hands-on skills.
Three skills are worth teaching kids:
- CPR. Chest compressions keep blood moving to the brain when the heart stops. Rescue breaths add oxygen.
- Rescue breathing. The rescuer breathes into the lungs of someone who is not breathing. It is often used with chest compressions.
- Abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). Quick upward pushes on the belly help clear something stuck in the throat of a choking person.
How can families stay safe at the beach?
Keep holes shallow. A good rule of thumb from beach safety experts is that a hole should be no deeper than the knee of the shortest child digging. Cover up deeper holes, and fill in every hole before you leave the beach.
If a hole collapses, call 911 right away. Dig from the sides instead of straight down, so that more sand does not fall in on the person.
If your child is 9 or older, they can start learning CPR. Many hospitals, community centers and American Red Cross chapters offer classes for kids and teens. A real class teaches the right way to do it, so a child does not have to rely on TV.
Disclaimer: The author is not a licensed medical professional. The information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is based on research from publicly available, reputable sources. It is not intended to constitute, and should not be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, symptoms, or medications. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment because of information contained herein.
AI Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor.