Vacationing Man Dies in Beach Accident

A Fredericksburg man died Monday in a beach accident on Hatteras Island, N.C., according to media reports, including the Island Free Press.

David Frasier, 49, reportedly died from suffocation. He was building a hole and tunnel in the sand when about 5 or 6 feet of sand collapsed on top of him, according to WBTW.com.

Frasier's family told park rangers that they spent 10 to 15 minutes digging him out of the sand. By the time helped arrived, Frasier was unresponsive.

Warning of the dangers of beach tunnels, ABC News reports that researchers found 52 media reports of sand-hole collapses on beaches in the United States, Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand. Sixty percent of the victims -- 31 people -- died, while many of the others needed rescuing and CPR.