Utah boy, 13, dies after digging tunnel into sand dune and being buried under six-and-a-half feet of sand when it collapsed 

• Ian Spendlove, 13, became trapped under the sand at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kanab, Utah
• A sand dune collapsed on him while he was digging a tunnel six-and-a-half feet underground at the state park
• He was eventually found unconscious 20 minutes later by state park officials
• A family member reported the incident although it remains unclear if that person was one or both of his parents
• He was administered CPR and a pulse was found before he was rushed to two local hospitals via helicopter
• By Sunday, Spendlove had still not regained brain activity and was pronounced dead
• 'The Utah Division of State Parks extends our condolences to Ian Spendlove's friends and family impacted by this tragedy,' a statement read

A teenage boy tragically passed away over the weekend after a sand dune collapsed on him while he was digging a tunnel six-and-a-half feet underground in a Utah state park. 

Ian Spendlove, 13, of Santa Clara, Utah, was digging a tunnel at the playground just outside a campground at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kanab at around 5.30pm on May 14 when it collapsed and he became trapped under the sand.

The victim's parents, who were nearby, alerted park rangers who were joined by local deputies from Kane County Sheriff's Office as they started desperately digging for the boy.

Spendlove was found unconscious 23 minutes later in the collapsed tunnel, roughly six-and-and-a-half feet beneath the sand. 

Emergency medical services responders performed CPR before rushing Spendlove to St. George Regional Hospital by helicopter and then to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. 

On Sunday, the teen was pronounced dead after failing to show any signs of brain activity.

'The Utah Division of State Parks extends our condolences to Ian Spendlove's friends and family impacted by this tragedy,' the press release regarding the tragedy further  said.

'With the recreation season now underway, Utah State Parks would like to remind everyone that while Utah's outdoors are beautiful places to explore, safety needs to be a top priority.'

'Always recreate with a buddy, wear your life jackets and helmets, and always let somebody know where you are going and when to expect your return,' it added. 

The investigation related to the Spendlove's death remains active, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. 

No charges were filed against the victim's parents by county's sheriff office or the state park, Devan Chavez - Lead Public Information Officer for Utah's 46 State Parks - told DailyMail.com.

The dunes there stem from the erosion of the pink Navajo sandstone around the park, according to Utah.com. The dunes are estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old.

High winds blowing through the gap between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains pick up and carry sand particles before dumping them onto the dunes - a process known as the 'Venturi effect.'  

The State Park is also known to ATV riders and businesses, who regularly use the dunes for tricks and rides for leisure or to bring tourists onto.

The park itself is 3,370-acres and is commonly used for camping, hiking and even sandboarding. 

The Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle are a unique species only found in the park and nowhere else in the in the world, according to WildEarth Guardians.