Bribie Island: Shock twist after young man was buried alive under 1.5m of sand and killed in freak beach accident

A criminal investigation has been launched into the death of Josh Taylor, 23, after he fell into a hole and became buried under sand on Bribie Island.

Taylor fell into a 1.5 meter hole dug so a pig could be cooked under the sand on the island of Queensland on December 2.

He never regained consciousness and his family switched off life support at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital on Thursday.

Now people who were at the popular tourist campsite when the incident occurred have been asked to contact police if they have not already done so.

A criminal investigation has been launched into the death of Josh Taylor (pictured right) who fell into a hole on Bribie Island and was buried under sand

Emergency services are pictured at the site where Taylor was buried under the sand

“Detectives from the Caboolture Criminal Investigation Branch continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

They believe there may have been “numerous people present who have yet to speak to police.”

“Officers are appealing for these people, as well as anyone with CCTV footage from the north side of Bribie Island on Saturday, to come forward,” the statement said.

Queensland Police have not revealed why the Caboolture Criminal Investigation Branch is involved in the case.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

Taylor had been fighting for his life since he reportedly fell backwards into a hole he and his friends dug.

A witness said he got up from his chair, lost his balance, tripped into the 5-foot hole and the walls of the pit fell on him.

He fell so far in that “you couldn't see his feet unless you were standing over the hole,” one witness said.

About fifteen people, including his father, Peter and an off-duty paramedic, were involved in the desperate attempt to dig up Taylor.

They eventually used a rope tied to his feet to pull him out of the sand, but when they got him out he was unresponsive, witnesses said.

CPR was performed on him until emergency services arrived and Mr Taylor was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The family of Josh Taylor (pictured) were by his side at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital when he died

His life support was turned off at the hospital on Thursday “with his family by his side.”

“He fought as hard as he could and is the most courageous person we will ever know,” his family said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained were too serious for him to overcome. We will somehow find a way to put this terrible tragedy behind us.”

The police do not want to say why the Criminal Investigation Department is involved in the investigation.