Seven-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Buried Alive In Sand By Brother

A seven-year-old boy has died after being buried alive in sand by his younger brother as they played at their home.

Wyatt McDaniel was pulled unconscious from the sand heap after his five-year-old brother ran to get help from their father.

Despite CPR efforts by Charlie McDaniel to revive his son and later attempts by paramedics, they were unable to resuscitate Wyatt, who went into cardiac arrest.

In aerial footage taken at the scene by news crews, emergency vehicles could be seen gathered around the large pile of sand on the outskirts of the family’s horse farm and riding school in Bexar County, Texas.

The loose sand that the boys played in was reportedly used for “patching up” riding surfaces after horses had trod across them, said The Telegraph.

The child was pronounced dead after being airlifted by helicopter from Wild Sunday farm on Friday.

“The brothers had been playing in the sand together when the younger son came to the father, alerting him that the older brother wasn’t moving,” said Paul Berry, a spokesman for the local sheriff.

He added:

“No one actually saw it. Clearly there was an accident with sand. And it appeared as if he suffocated but that needs to be determined by the medical examiner.”

Theresa Chamberlain, a friend of the family, told local media that the two boys were “best buddies” and “inseparable.”

The boy’s father was reportedly teaching at the time of the accident.

A full autopsy will be conducted next week, but, at present, police are said to believe the incident was a tragic accident.

Families attending Wyatt’s school, Wilderness Oaks Elementary, have extended “an outpouring of support” to the McDaniels.

The community has been invited to tie orange ribbons — Wyatt’s favorite color — around the school campus, KSEE24 reports.