A teenager who dug a hole for himself in Newport Beach ended up buried alive in the sand — and the focus of intense media attention.

Just what you want when you're 17. CBS Los Angeles identified him as Matt Mina.

Authorities said Mina and a friend were digging dueling holes as deep as seven feet with the intention of connecting them at the bottom when the teen's caved in, causing a throng of beach-goers and rescuers to try to pull him out. Embarrassing?

It happened at 54th Street about 3:38 p.m., said Jennifer Schulz of the Newport Beach Fire Department. Nervous moments stretched to a half hour before the teen was pulled out alive.

Mina told CBS2 that he wasn't sure if anyone was coming to help. “I didn't think anyone could hear me screaming,” he said.

At one point, he says, he lost consciousness. Mina was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, checked out, and released, according to City News Service.

The moral of this story? If you're 17 you're maybe a little old to be playing in the sand.

Hey Matt, there are girls at the U.S. Open of Surfing up the beach. Just sayin.'

-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us. Follow us on Twitter, too: @dennisjromero.

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