As a 3-year-old boy’s parents frantically searched for him on the sand in Newport Beach, his small body was buried alive, trapped under the sand.

Had it not been for a bystander’s quick thinking, the boy may not be alive, authorities said.

Jesse Martin, a 35-year-old visiting from Arizona, overheard two frantic women asking lifeguards for help when they couldn’t find a lost 3-year-old boy near 40th Street around 2:30 p.m.

It’s not an uncommon occurrence, especially on a busy holiday weekend when the sand is packed. At least 10 missing children calls were received that day in Newport alone, authorities said.

But what was unusual was what happened next.

Martin, in town with his family for the holiday weekend, decided to help in the search. He called in some nearby uncles and cousins to help. He noticed a group of kids playing in a hole where the boy was last seen. He asked them to get out, and on a hunch, he started digging.

“After a couple big scoops I felt him under there,” Martin said.

Martin said the boy was white and blue when he pulled him out of the sand. Two uncles, Steve and Stuart Frost, rushed over and started doing CPR and chest compressions.

“They got him moving and breathing before paramedics could get there,” Martin said.

When tower lifeguard Fletcher Norseen arrived on scene, he continued rescue breathing.

Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Brent Jacobsen said the boy had been “tunneling” – digging one hole that connected to another hole – when it collapsed on top of him. Authorities believe the hole was about 3 feet deep.

Martin said the boy had been under the sand at least 3-4 minutes.

The boy was transported to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.

Martin, who has children ages 9 and 12, said he did what anyone would do.

“I’m not a hero. I have two kids of my own, it scares me. I just like to help out and help anyone we can,” he said. “I knew (the mom) was frantic and scared. Kids have gotten away from me, I know the feeling. I just tried to jump in and help.”

Sand entrapment is a danger many beachgoers don’t know about, Jacobsen said.

Lifeguards warn that no one should ever dig a hole that is deeper than 1 foot, and digging a tunnel and trying to climb into it is extremely dangerous.

“It is very easy to become entrapped,” he said. “Sand can weigh several hundred pounds and you don’t even realize it.”

Jacobsen said it was a close call.

“We probably just narrowly missed a fatality,” he said.

Martin said the family has sent photos showing the boy healthy at home.

“That’s what makes it all worth it,” he said. “I was nervous and shook up seeing him how he was when he first came out of the hole.”

Contact the writer: lconnelly@ocregister.com