A DAD who battled near-fatal kidney disease died after a sand tunnel he was digging collapsed on him during a family day at the beach in Florida.

Tragic Lee Goggin, 35, suffered a cardiac arrest when he was buried alive beneath "several feet" of sand when part of a dune smashed down on him.

8 Lee Goggin, who died after being buried alive in a sand tunnel he was digging Credit: Facebook

Lee, who also suffered from a rare genetic disorder, had stopped off at Crescent Beach with wife Courtney and their three children Jace, four, two-and-a-half-year old Colton and eight month old Rylee.

The personal trainer, from Dallas, spent the next two days in a coma, but died from his injuries on Tuesday.

His sister Rachel Goggin-Burt explained the "freak accident" on a GoFundMe page initially set up to cover medical expenses.

She wrote: "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.

8 The scene of the tragedy - the toppled dune that buried Lee Goggin as he tried to tunnel through the sand Credit: CBS 47 Action News jax

8 Paramedics stretcher Lee Goggin to a waiting ambulance Credit: Action News Jax

8 Emergency crews at the scene of the tragedy at Crescent Beach in Florida Credit: Action News Jax

8 Paramedics can be seen can be seen tending to Lee Goggin after he was buried alive in the sand Credit: Fox 30 action news jax

8 The personal trainer suffered a cardiac arrest when part of dune toppled on him Credit: Facebook

8 Personal trainer Lee had stopped off at the beach with his family to 'let the children burn off energy'

8 Crescent Beach, Florida, where Lee Goggin was playing with his kids before tragedy struck Credit: Getty - Contributor

"The accident left Lee on a ventilator and unable to breathe for himself until his death on Tuesday.

Grieving Rachel went on to pay an emotional tribute to her "precious, big brother" on Facebook.

She said: "Our hearts are shattered, but we don’t grieve without hope.

"Lee Goggin is where he has prepared to be. He is reunited with our sweet mom and Mamaw & Papaw!

Father of three Lee Goggin speaks of conquering a rare genetic disease, before tragically being killed when a sand dune collapsed in Florida

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"Lee, my sweet big brother, we love you so much and can’t wait to be reunited with you one day!."

The accident happened just three and a half years after Goggin beat end-stage kidney disease thanks to a transplant from his brother Aaron.

Lee also suffered from Ectodermal Dysplasia diagnosis - a set of closely related genetic disorders which affect the growth and function of teeth, hair, nails and sweat glands.

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