Teen Girl Rescued from Collapsed Sand Hole at San Diego Beach

A 16-year-old girl was buried up to her neck in a deep sand hole that collapsed at Mission Beach in San Diego on Tuesday. Lifeguards and Good Samaritans raced against the encroaching tide to free the trapped teen.

A 16-year-old girl was rescued from a collapsed sand hole at Mission Beach in San Diego on Tuesday, July 16. The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. when the teen was digging in the sand with friends.

According to witnesses, the hole was approximately six to eight feet deep and collapsed suddenly, burying the teen up to her neck. Beachgoers and lifeguards rushed to the scene to help.

Teen Girl Rescued from Collapsed Sand Hole at San Diego Beach

Lifeguards frantically dug to free the teen from the sand. Good Samaritan Richard Mastan, who was nearby with a shovel, jumped into action to assist.

"We saw that she was buried up to her neck, we could only see her head and her arms sticking out," Lt. Jacob Magness of San Diego Lifeguards told FOX5 San Diego.

Teen Girl Rescued from Collapsed Sand Hole at San Diego Beach

The teen's friends initially tried to dig her out but were unsuccessful. They flagged down lifeguards, who arrived within minutes.

"Since I already had a shovel in my hand, they could see ‘don’t bother that guy, just let him keep digging,’ so I was just digging like crazy," Mastan told FOX5.

Teen Girl Rescued from Collapsed Sand Hole at San Diego Beach

It took approximately 20 minutes for first responders to fully dig out the teen and free her from the sand hole. Paramedics evaluated the girl at the scene before releasing her to her parents.

Experts warn that deep sand holes can be extremely dangerous. If they collapse, the sand becomes compact, trapping anyone caught in the collapse under a tremendous weight that can deprive them of oxygen.

Teen Girl Rescued from Collapsed Sand Hole at San Diego Beach

In February, a sand hole collapse on a South Florida beach tragically killed a 7-year-old Indiana girl named Sloan Mattingly. She was digging a hole with her 9-year-old brother when the sand caved in, burying her alive. Despite the efforts of bystanders and first responders, Sloan was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Authorities urge beachgoers to exercise caution when digging deep holes in the sand. They should avoid digging holes that are more than waist-deep and should be aware of the potential for collapse.