Human Interest 18-Year-Old Dies in Sand Collapse on N.J. Beach: 'We Came to Try to Have a Family Vacation,' Mom Says The teens were "reportedly digging a large hole when it collapsed and trapped both of them," police said of Levi Caverly and his sister, who was rescued By Alexandra Schonfeld Alexandra Schonfeld Alexandra Schonfeld is a features writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since April 2022. Her work previously appeared in Newsweek. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 18, 2022 02:13PM EDT Levi Caverly. Photo: Facebook A family is mourning the death of 18-year-old Levi Caverly, who was killed on Tuesday after he and his sister became trapped in the sand on a New Jersey beach. The incident occurred just after 4 p.m. on a beach in Toms River, where the family had been visiting from Maine, according to ABC affiliate WPVI-TV. The teens were "reportedly digging a large hole when it collapsed and trapped both of them. Emergency crews from neighboring towns also responded to the scene to assist in rescue efforts," said a statement from the Toms River Police Department posted to Facebook Tuesday. "The 17 year old female victim was rescued and treated at the scene, but her brother Levi Caverly, 18 of Union Maine, tragically died in the collapse," they wrote. 13-Year-Old Utah Boy Dies After Getting 'Trapped Underneath' Sand Dune That 'Unexpectedly Collapsed' Emergency crews used buckets of water, ladders, bulldozers and other heavy machinery in their effort to free the teens, WPVI-TV reported. After an hours-long effort, Levi's body was recovered around 7 p.m., according to NJ.com. In an interview conducted on Wednesday, mom Angela Caverly said her daughter — who was treated for minor injuries — was doing physically "ok." "She's helping drive us home right now," she told NJ Advance Media, per NJ.com. "This was our first time (in Toms River). We came to try to have a family vacation," added Angela, who shared of her son, "we know he's with Jesus and smiling down on us." Beach in Toms River. Getty Levi was remembered by his father as not being "concerned with what others thought." "Levi was himself. He was odd. He was quirky," Todd Caverly wrote in a statement on Facebook. "He was involved in the worship team at church, and was the drummer in a teen/ young adult worship band. He was a tech nut and loved to program. "Thank you all for praying. Please don't stop," he wrote in another post. "Levi Caverly, there are not words to express my love for you." High School Senior, 18, Dies After Being Struck by Mass. Train: 'She Was My Whole Life,' Says Mom In a statement, Toms River Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill said the entire community is "heartbroken" for the family. "The Jersey Shore is a place where families come to make memories, bond and enjoy all that the beach has to offer. This tragedy is a reminder to us all to be vigilant for our loved ones safety," Hill wrote. "Let me remind all of our beach goers, visitors and locals, to never dig more than knee deep in the sand," Hill continued. "Doing so puts yourself and others at risk."