Two children were having fun at the shore when they were unexpectedly pulled into a sinkhole. The pair, who were digging a hole at Newport Beach in California, got trapped as the tide surged in, submerging them in waist-deep sand. Distressed parents attempted to rescue them as onlookers rushed to help, using their hands and beach buckets to dig them out.
A video of the incident went viral, garnering over 20 million views. The footage shows beach visitors frantically working to free the children, while one of the boys shouted for a lifeguard. Lifeguards swiftly arrived, with one of them courageously entering the hole to extricate the children before it collapsed. Another lifeguard constructed a barrier to divert water from the sinkhole.
Fortunately, the children were successfully rescued. Lifeguard Mark Herman noted that such occurrences are not uncommon, cautioning that seemingly stable sand can collapse when saturated with water. He emphasized the importance of beach safety, highlighting the risks posed by even shallow holes and the critical nature of swift action during rising tides.
Witness Brittney Hood expressed her lingering concern over the incident, emphasizing her relief that the children were unharmed. The previous year, a coastguard team issued a “risk to life” alert after a large sinkhole emerged on a crowded beach in Essex. The Coastguard responded to the situation, cordoning off the 9ft long, 7ft wide, and 7ft deep hole to prevent accidents. Visitors were advised to stay clear of the area due to the potential danger of collapsing sand trapping individuals.
The Coastguard Southend spokesperson underscored the hazards of sinkholes, warning of the risks associated with collapsing holes and the potential for individuals to become stuck in the mixture of water and sand. Beach safety remains a top priority to prevent such incidents and ensure the well-being of all beachgoers.
