Newport Beach Teen Rescued From Underneath The Sand

WATCH: Dramatic Rescue Of Teen Trapped In Sand

UPDATED -- Matt Mina, the Newport Beach teen who was saved from the sandy sinkhole, knows that he's lucky to be alive.

Mina spoke to CBS Los Angeles about his ordeal, saying, "I thought I was going to die." He also feared that no one could hear him screaming.

"The helplessness you feel when you're underground -- it's like, you think you can just pull yourself out, but you can't. It's so heavy," Mina explained.

For more, read about the interview at CBS Los Angeles.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Associated Press) -- A fire spokeswoman says a teenage boy is in good condition after he was pulled from under about five feet of sand that collapsed on him at Newport Beach.

The Orange County Register ( ) says paramedics and lifeguards were called to the beach just east of the Santa Ana River at about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday. http://bit.ly/mQwS6z

Authorities say the boy had dug about five feet below the surface of the beach when the surrounding sand caved in on him. He remained buried for nearly 30 minutes while paramedics dug him out.

The newspaper says a crowd that gathered at the site erupted in cheers when the boy was rescued and appeared to be OK.

Fire spokeswoman Jennifer Schultz says he was taken to a hospital in good condition.

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Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com

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