EVERETT, Wash. -- A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Seattle after being buried in a backyard sandbox by his playmates.

The boy has been identified as Codey Porter. His family issued a statement saying, it "appreciates all the support from the public. The family would appreciate your prayers and respect for their privacy at this time."

The incident happened around 11 a.m. Saturday in the 13800 block of 59th Avenue SE in Everett.

Porter’s half brother, 30-year-old Joshua Quantrille, said Codey was playing with Quantrille's three sons and several other children in the back yard of a home belonging to a family friend.

Quantrille said his children told him Codey came up with the idea that they should bury him, head first, in the sand.

The children came up with the idea from a cartoon they watch on television, said Quantrille.

Quantrille said Codey was buried about from his head to his chest. At some point, he began thrashing around, but the children apparently thought he was playing.

Snohomish County spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said the other five children soon realized he wasn't breathing and they dug him out and called for help.

Police said adults were home at the time of the incident and they administer CPR until aid arrived.

Police said they talked to the five children to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.

No children were detained or taken into custody.