Maine man, 18, dead in hole collapse on Toms River beach; his sister was rescued: police

TOMS RIVER: An 18-year-old man from Maine was killed Tuesday evening in the collapse of a hole on the beach that the man was digging with his 17-year-old sister, authorities said.

Township police officers and emergency medical services personnel went to the beach near the entrance to Seaview Road on the barrier island about 4:09 p.m.

The brother and sister spent the afternoon with their family at the beach, known as Ocean Beach III, a private beach community of 950 homes located on the northern Ocean barrier island authorities said.

Toms River Mayor Maurice "Mo" Hill Jr. said the hole was deep, dug out with Frisbees.

The 17-year-old girl was rescued and treated at the scene, police said.

Emergency crews from the surrounding area pulled her brother, Levy Caverley, out of the sand about 6:45 p.m.

“It was an amazing effort by all of our first responders and bystanders to try and rescue these children. Although our outcome was not what we had hoped for, we had great success in the rescue of one occupant,” said Chief Drew Calvo of the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Company. “The Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Company and all of our first responders offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.”

This is not the first time a collapse has occurred on the beaches of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

In July 2020, Belmar police, lifeguards, rescuers and firefighters saved a boy from a collapsed sand hole.

In August 2015, lifeguards and bystanders pulled a 12-year-old boy out of a collapsed hole in Surf City.

Editor's note: this version includes corrections concerning the name of the beach and the status of the 17-year-old girl.

Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news, investigations and local issues. Reach him at kserrano@gannettnj.com.