Dad-of-three dies after sand tunnel collapses on him as he played with kids on beach
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A dad-of-three died after a sand tunnel collapsed on him as he played with his children on a beach in Florida.
US media report Lee Goggin, 35, suffered a heart attack when he was buried alive when a dune caved in on him on Sunday in St Augustine.
Lee, a personal trainer from Irving, Texas, was rushed to hospital where he spent two days in a medically-induced coma before his death was pronounced on Tuesday.
Devastated relatives said Mr Goggin was travelling to Disney World on a family holiday when he stopped at the beach "to let the kids burn some energy".
(Image: Facebook)
(Image: CBS News)
Writing on a GoFundMe page , his sister Rachel Burt said: "Today there was a freak accident involving my older brother, Lee Goggin.
"Our family was just starting off on vacation when we stopped in at the beach in St. Augustine, FL to let the kids burn some energy.
"Lee was building a tunnel in the sand when it collapsed on him."
Ms Burt explained Lee did not qualify for life insurance after he received a transplant for kidney disease in 2014 from their brother Aaron.
(Image: CBS News)
(Image: CBS News)
Confirming his death on the fundraising page, Ms Burt said her brother was the "primary source of income" for his wife Courtney and three children Jace, four, Colton, two, and eight-month-old Rylee.
An appeal to raise $5,000, set up initially to cover his medical expenses, has been smashed with more than $50,000 in donations in just four days.
Ms Burt wrote: "Lee wanted to give as much of himself to others as he could.
"He will be following, once again, in our mom's footsteps by donating as many organs as possible to bring hope to other families.
"He is our rock and hope. Thank you for the prayers, calls, texts, and visits.
"They have sustained us these past couple of days, and we're so grateful.
"Our hearts ache greatly, but Heaven just got so much sweeter than it already was."
Friend Joe Long told CBS Dallas : "He's got a beautiful wife, three great kids … just a phenomenal guy. The world is definitely at a loss without him."