Teen buried alive by sandfall

A Chinese homestay pupil was fatally buried alive at St Kilda Beach, Dunedin, on Saturday.

The 16-year-old was digging holes in the sand in an isolated area of the beach with his two cousins when the accident occurred about 4.45pm.

He was standing in a deep hole, digging with his head down, when the sand collapsed on top of him.

Surf lifesavers and ambulance staff were unable to revive him.

It is understood it was the first time the teen had seen sand.

The death is the third involving a Kings High School student in seven months. Last August, a 24-year-old adult Chinese homestay student died after falling down a bank into a construction yard and in December a pupil died of a heart attack.