Authorities said a 16-year-old girl was rescued when the hole she was digging in the sand collapsed on top of her, burying her up to her neck.
The adolescent, who wished to remain anonymous, was digging on a beach in San Diego, California, on Tuesday night when she got stuck in six to eight feet of sand, according to KGTV, an ABC San Diego station.
As high tide neared, the girl was stuck in the sand about 20 feet from the ocean, according to the authorities. Lifeguards, park officials, and firefighters hurried to extricate the teenager as a group of onlookers gathered around them.
They dug for almost fifteen minutes before they succeeded in pulling her to safety. The teenager was seen on camera leaving the hole by herself before being led to a gurney by rescue personnel.
The teenager was not hurt in any way. Beach safety is a major concern, particularly during the height of summer, thanks to the teen’s dramatic rescue.
On a beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, in March, a 7-year-old girl named Sloan Mattingly perished after getting stuck in the sand while digging a hole with her brother.
Following Sloan’s passing in March, Wyatt Werneth, national spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association, told “GMA” that not enough individuals are cautioned about the risks associated with playing in the sand at the beach.
“We hear a lot about rip currents and lightning and things like that, but this is nonetheless dangerous and should be included in the warning systems,” Werneth, a lifeguard in Cocoa Beach, Florida stated. “Sand on the beaches, unlike some hill areas or inland areas, it moves very easily. When you start digging a hole, it’ll fill itself up very quickly.”
Beachgoers can still have fun creating sandcastles and playing in the sand, Werneth said, but they should proceed with caution.
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First, Werneth advised against digging holes deeper than knee-deep and against climbing into holes at the shore.
Second, Werneth advises beachgoers to “know before they go,” which implies that they should constantly assemble near a lifeguard stand and be mindful of any potential beach hazards, such as riptides and sand holes.
“Lifeguards are stewards of the beach,” he stated. “If you go to a beach and you start digging a hole and there’s a lifeguard around, they’re going to warn you and make sure you’re safe.”
Werneth pointed out that it’s crucial to bear in mind that you should patch any holes you make in the sand before leaving the beach in order to keep others safe.
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