A man has lost his life after he was buried alive in what has been described as a "horrible accident".
Josh Taylor's family confirmed the devastating news on Thursday (7 December), revealing that the 25-year-old's life support had been switched off four days after the incident unfolded.
As reported by News.com.au, the tragedy occurred as Taylor was enjoying time on the beach with friends and family, only to have the ground beneath him give way.
He fell into a pit that had been dug for roasting a pig, and sand quickly piled on top of him, burying him under a 1.5-meter-deep mound.
Witnesses rushed to help, and a group of both emergency services and family members performed CPR before Taylor was airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
Despite the efforts, he remained in critical condition for several days, and his family later announced that his injuries were too severe to overcome.
An eyewitness, Nathan, shared the harrowing scene with the outlet, stating: "All of his family were screaming at us, telling us to help, telling us to get rope so we could pull him out. It was pretty gruesome. There were like 15 men on the rope pulling and he did not budge."
In a heartfelt statement, Taylor's family described him as the "best son, brother, boyfriend, and mate," expressing their love and grief. "He fought as hard as he could and is the most courageous person we will ever know. Goodbye mate, until we see each other again."
Queensland Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident, urging potential witnesses to come forward. A police spokesperson said: "Officers are appealing to those people, as well as anyone who may have dash-camera footage from the northern end of Bribie Island on Saturday to come forward."
Following the tragic incident, a friend of the family started a GoFundMe page to support them during this difficult time. The fundraiser emphasized Taylor as a "vibrant and adventurous soul who has brought so much joy to those around him."
The fundraising page gained AU$71,000 ($46,000) before it stopped taking donations, and it outlined that all the donations would help financially support the family.
Taylor's football club, Wests Old Boys, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook. They penned: "With a heavy heart and the deepest sadness … Josh passed away peacefully today with his family by his side."
Our thoughts are with Taylor's loved ones during this difficult time.
