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Sign call after sand tunnel death Sign call after sand tunnel death
(about 6 hours later)
A coroner has called for more signs warning of the dangers of tunnelling on beaches after the death of a teenager.A coroner has called for more signs warning of the dangers of tunnelling on beaches after the death of a teenager.
Craig Owen, 16, from Brymbo, Wrexham, died at Cefn Sidan beach in Carmarthenshire after a sand tunnel collapsed on him.Craig Owen, 16, from Brymbo, Wrexham, died at Cefn Sidan beach in Carmarthenshire after a sand tunnel collapsed on him.
A verdict of accidental death has been recorded at the inquest in Llanelli following Craig's death in August. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the inquest in Llanelli following Craig's death in August.
The coroner said he would be writing to Carmarthenshire Council asking for warning signs to be put up. The council said it had taken on board the coroner's recommendations and was considering putting up pictorial signs.
Craig died on 3 August while playing on holiday at Cefn Sidan. Craig died on 3 August while on a family holiday with his parents Ron and Jayne, who were not at the inquest.
Despite frantic efforts to free him from 5ft of sand, Craig had stopped breathing in front of his parents Ron and Jayne. They were using Pembrey Coastal Park as a base and it was there Craig decided to dig a hole in a dune with four friends, the inquest heard.
Insp Owain Richards described how the teenagers decided to link two holes, one about 10ft deep and the second about 7ft deep with a connecting tunnel.
Craig continued digging in the sand and could almost stand up.
Chris Brown, 18, later told police of the frantic efforts to made to save his friend.
"Suddenly, the sand above the tunnel collapsed and caved in on top of Craig.
"The boys frantically used their hands to dig him out and after a few minutes they managed to get to the back of his head.
"They eventually managed to free the sand away from around his shoulders before the emergency services arrived."
Mr Richards said Chris Brown's father Michael was the first adult on the scene and he ran to help, giving Craig mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before rescuers arrived.
Craig was quickly freed and airlifted to hospital at Swansea where he was pronounced dead.
Seaside attractionsSeaside attractions
Speaking after the inquest, John Owen, the coroner for Carmarthenshire, said the public should be made more aware through signs and publicity of the dangers of digging in sand.Speaking after the inquest, John Owen, the coroner for Carmarthenshire, said the public should be made more aware through signs and publicity of the dangers of digging in sand.
He said an expert had given evidence to the inquest that sand tunnelling was an "inherently dangerous activity".He said an expert had given evidence to the inquest that sand tunnelling was an "inherently dangerous activity".
He suggested councils could refer to the dangers on their websites promoting seaside attractions.He suggested councils could refer to the dangers on their websites promoting seaside attractions.
He said: "Some sort of signage is needed."He said: "Some sort of signage is needed."
In response Carmarthenshire council said it had taken the coroner's advice on board.In response Carmarthenshire council said it had taken the coroner's advice on board.
The boy was pronounced dead after being flown to hospital in Swansea
The council said it "will be putting in place the appropriate signage pictorially to enable them to be clearly understood by children and teenagers".The council said it "will be putting in place the appropriate signage pictorially to enable them to be clearly understood by children and teenagers".
"He also asked that we emphasise the potential dangers of digging, tunnelling, and playing in soft dune sand and on all literature and our website publicising Cefn Sidan ,which is Wales' biggest summer visitor attraction pulling in 1m tourists and visitors a year," a spokesman said. "He also asked that we emphasise the potential dangers of digging, tunnelling, and playing in soft dune sand and on all literature and our website publicising Cefn Sidan, which is Wales' biggest summer visitor attraction pulling in 1m tourists and visitors a year," a spokesman said.
Prof Kenneth Pye, who gave evidence at the inquest, went further outside the hearing to call for an urgent nationwide alert warning young adults and children of the potentially fatal dangers of digging into dunes.
He said the action should be taken before next summer to put the signs in place at beaches around the UK.
Hundreds attended Craig's funeral a week after his death, when his coffin was draped in the Welsh flag and mourners wore Welsh rugby shirts.Hundreds attended Craig's funeral a week after his death, when his coffin was draped in the Welsh flag and mourners wore Welsh rugby shirts.
Two weeks later his family were told the teenager had achieved five A*s and five As in his GCSEs.Two weeks later his family were told the teenager had achieved five A*s and five As in his GCSEs.