Kane Watson and family (Credit: Givealittle) & stock image of a hole in the sand (Credit: Shutterstock)
Kane Watson, 28, a father of four, died after being trapped under a collapsed sand dune at Muriwai Beach near Auckland on August 23. He was playing in the sand with his 18-month-old daughter and three stepsons when the dune gave way, burying him headfirst.
Watson remained trapped for 15 minutes before rescue teams dug him out. He was taken to Auckland City Hospital but died the following day.
University of Auckland lecturer Colin Whittaker warned of the dangers of sand dunes, comparing their weight to that of an elephant and describing how difficult they are to dig through.
A Givealittle page describes Watson as a devoted father with another baby on the way. “His greatest joy was being with his children,” family friend Kristalle Tayler wrote. “The suddenness of this accident has left Kane’s family shattered.”
Watson’s sister Shaquille called him her “best friend.” Tayler added, “All he ever wanted was a family — and just as he had it, it was ripped away.”