Boy Scout, 12, dies after crawling into a hole he carved in a sand dune that SWALLOWED him up for 30 minutes before anyone noticed he was missing
- Gage Wilson was at Van Buren State Park in southwestern Michigan when an unstable sand dune near the beach collapsed with him inside Saturday
- It took 30 minutes before two fellow scouts noticed his disappearance. Leaders tried to revive him before emergency services arrived at the scene
- Boy Scouts of America released a statement expressing condolences for the victim and his family, who are from the Kalamazoo area, Sunday
A 12-year-old boy has died after a sand dune collapsed on him while he was out on an expedition with the Boy Scouts of America.
Gage Wilson was at Van Buren State Park in southwestern Michigan when he dug a hole in the side of a sand dune and managed to squeeze himself into it Saturday.
However the unstable beach-side dune later swallowed him up and it was 30 minutes before two fellow scouts noticed his disappearance, South Haven police told TV station WWMT.
Gage Wilson was at Van Buren State Park (pictured) in southwestern Michigan when an unstable sand dune near the beach collapsed with him inside Saturday
Wilson was found unresponsive around 4.11pm and leaders tried to revived him before an emergency team arrived says Sergeant Mike Knizewski.
He was airlifted to Bronson Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Michigan Crossroads Council of the Boy Scouts of America released a statement about the boy was from the Kalamazoo area Sunday.
It took 30 minutes before two fellow scouts (not pictured) noticed his disappearance and leaders tried to revive him before emergency services arrived at the scene
‘This is a very difficult time for our Scouting family. We are sad to confirm the death of one of our youth members following an accident at a Scouting event,’ Donald Shepard, Scout Executive / CEO of the Michigan Crossroads Council wrote on Facebook.
‘We offer our deepest condolences to the victim and his family, and we will support them in any way that we can. Please join us in keeping all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.’
The organization reassured parents that their kids are not in great danger when taking part in activities.
Boy Scouts of America released a statement expressing condolences for the victim and his family, who are from the Kalamazoo area, Sunday
They added that they’re in touch with the boy’s relatives.
‘Safety is integral to everything we do, and the BSA places great importance on prevention and preparedness to create the most secure environment possible for youth members,’ Shepard continued.
‘We are currently doing all that we can to provide support to the family and the Scouting community.’
Advertisement