Beachgoers are being warned not to dig deep holes in the sand after a teenager almost died when he was trapped inside with ‘incoming tide’.
Digging in the sand may be one of the seaside’s simplest yet most popular pastimes, but emergency services in the UK are warning that it can come with hidden dangers.
While it may seem harmless enough to try and dig your way to Australia while catching some rays, deep holes can pose a ‘serious risk’ if paired rising waters.
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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said coastguard, fire, police and ambulance crews were called to Exmouth Beach, Devon, just after 5pm on Thursday 1 June.
They had 'dozens’ of reports of a ‘man trapped in sand with an incoming tide’, with rescuers from Dawlish Coastguard, Beer Coastguard Rescue Team, RNLI Exmouth, RNLI Lifeguards South and East Devon, Exmouth Fire Station, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, the South West Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team, Devon Air Ambulance, BASICS Devon Doctor and Devon and Cornwall Police all attending to rescue the teenager.
"Don't dig and enter deep holes on the beaches please,” Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement.
“This incident was made even more severe by the rising tide and quicksand effect of the sand and water."
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Drew Parkinson, Coastguard Area Commander for South Devon and Southeast Cornwall, confirmed on Twitter that the teen was rescued ‘without serious injury’.
He tweeted: "HUGE emergency services response this evening to someone trapped in sand at Exmouth Beach.
"Dozens of members of the public and emergency services worked tirelessly to save the person from drowning as tide came in.
“Thanks to the fast response of @RNLI Lifeguards and the public, the person was recovered without serious injury and passed into the care of ambulance. Well done to the numerous 999 callers reporting the incident to @HMCoastguard.”
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Sharing photos from a previous rescue exercise at Exmouth Beach in 2022, he also urged anyone in an emergency on the coast to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Parkinson added: “Fortunately this is an incident that we’ve trained for in the past, with local responders to the Exmouth area. We have rescue procedures in place due to the serious risk that sand holes pose.”
Exmouth Fire Station previously issued similar advice, publishing a photo of a deep hole on Exmouth Beach in 2021.
"Sand is heavier than you think,” the fire service said.
“You could be crushed or suffocated.
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"Sadly, we have been to many incidents in the past involving large holes and trenches which have quickly turned from a casualty rescue to a body recovery job."
Jess Hardiman