Coastguard warning about sand hole collapses after major rescue in Newquay
Emergency services and members of the public worked to free a man who dug a hole at Fistral
HM Coastguard has issued a warning about sand hole collapses following a major rescue in Newquay.
A man dug a hole at Fistral just over a week ago, which then caved in and trapped him under the sand.
Lifeguards, coastguards, police, firefighters and members of the public all worked together to dig him out.
Police tweeted to say he was left in the care of paramedics and added: "Hoping for a full recovery": Read more.
Now HM Coastguard Area 11 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly has since posted a safety message on social media.
They say whilst there is nothing wrong with digging a hole at the beach, the deeper it is the most at-risk you are.
They also shared advice on the best way to rescue someone, by creating circles of people digging to clear the sand.
The coastguard said: "Digging a hole on the beach is something many of us will remember doing as a child - or even as an adult.
"These seemingly innocent pits could become potential death traps.
"Sand hole collapses are rare but can be lethal if you become trapped in one.
"There's nothing wrong with digging holes at the beach and filling them with water for your kids to play in. BUT if you dig a hole so deep that your head is barely poking out or burrow into a sand dune then you could be putting your life at risk. If it's taken you three hours to dig your hole - that's how long it might take someone to dig you out.
"These deeper types of holes are highly unstable. The wet harder sand that you dig out will dry out in the sun making it loose and the deeper you dig the more danger there is of the hole collapsing inwards and potentially trapping you inside.
"The holes can collapse when people fall into them and a casualty can be trapped by cascading sand, making it impossible to move.
"In severe cases the weight could restrict breathing so badly it could be fatal, sadly that has happened in recent years here in our beautiful county.
"The best way to rescue someone is to create a circle of people digging with their hands, then another outer circle will do the same while also removing the sand from the first circle, more circles of people digging will be added as they become available. This will then create a wider shallow hole with no risk of any further collapse of sand.
"Never leave your hole unattended and always fill it back in so it isn't a hazard to others.
"Spend the day wisely on a lifeguarded beach where trained experts are on hand to give safety advice and keep you safe".
HM Coastguard Area 11 Cornwall & Isles of Scilly