A 10-year-old boy died after a sand dune he was digging in on Terrace Beach, near Eden, collapsed on him. 

Moruya Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) president Mike Hallahan said he had not heard of a similar incident in the Eurobodalla. 

“I’m sure there is a risk of it happening here, but we haven’t really got any of those high dunes,” Mr Hallahan said. 

“Usually the high tides and rough weather cut into the sand to make those. 

“People should not be too alarmed; they have more risk of drowning here.”

Batemans Bay SLSC duty officer Anthony Bellette also had not heard of it happening in the shire and was shocked when he heard the news on Monday afternoon. 

“When I heard about it, I thought it was a pretty freak accident," Mr Bellette said.

“We could not believe it actually happened.

“You do see people dig big holes at the beach, but not big enough to take someone out.”

Mr Bellette said coastal erosion was something for parents to be cautious of when visiting the beach with little ones. 

"After big swells and big tides you do get a lot of coastal erosion,” he said. 

“It is something to be aware and careful of when you go down to the beach after big swells. 

“That’s not saying that even on a flat day there won’t be coastal erosion from the weeks before.”

Mr Bellette said the northern end of Malua Bay beach usually saw a “fair bit of erosion” and Eurobodalla beaches were not free from high coastal erosion cliffs. 

Far South Coast Director of Surf Life Saving Andrew Edmunds offered his condolences to the family and all those involved in the rescue operation. 

"It is a very sad, tragic and hopefully rare incident," he said.

Mr Edmonds said he had not heard of anything similar, but risks did exist in the natural environment.