Rescuers used everything from their hands to heavy equipment to dig out a child buried in sand.
Just after 8 p.m. Friday night, rescuers pulled him from the sand, and quickly whisked him away. He was transported in an ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Michigan City.
"His condition is unknown right now. . .we're just hoping for the best," said Bruce Rowe, spokesman, Indiana Dunes.
The rescue had been a race against time as crews searched the scene at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. What happened exactly is still in question.
"We do not know what happened. . . This is unprecedented, nothing like this has ever happened here at the Dunes before," said Rowe.
Fire officials say early reports indicate this was a sinkhole, but they are still trying to confirm that information. Regardless, rescuers used shovels & heavy equipment to dig scoop by scoop. The boy's parents were on the scene too.
This is happening near Mount Baldy, the tallest moving sand dune at the national lakeshore. According to the Park Service, the dune is 126 feet high and you can reach the summit by using designated trails.
"Mount Baldy is going to be closed for the weekend until we figure out what happened here," said Rowe.
Officials say the boy is being airlifted to a Chicago area hospital for further treatment.
