Teen Hurt In Sand Collapse At Santa Cruz Beach

DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- A teenager is in critical condition after a sand tunnel he was digging at a Santa Cruz County beach collapsed on top of him over the weekend.

Seventeen-year-old Ryan Buchanan was on a camping trip with a large group from Creekside Community Church in Alamo when the accident happened Saturday afternoon at Sunset State Beach.

Park officials say Buchanan and another boy were digging the tunnel about six-feet deep when the sand collapsed and buried him. The teen was trapped for about 15 minutes before lifeguards and friends were able to dig him out.

Buchanan was airlifted to a San Jose hospital.

Church elder Brian Fuery told KTVU-TV that Buchanan remains unconscious but that his brain waves appear to be responding to people's voices.

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