Teen girl rescued after getting trapped in sand hole at San Diego beach

A 16-year-old girl was rescued after becoming trapped in the sand at a popular beach in San Diego, California, earlier this week.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department told USA TODAY that a group of children were digging a "very deep" hole at Mission Beach on Tuesday.

A woman noticed the victim, a 16-year-old girl, in the hole and the other children trying to get her out. She notified the lifeguards, who contacted local authorities for further assistance in getting the girl out of the hole, which was approximately eight to ten feet deep.

The teen was buried from her chest down. Her head and arms were still above the sand.

USA TODAY reached out to San Diego Fire-Rescue for comment.

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Video shows authorities trying to dig the teen out of the hole

Video obtained by local news outlets shows beachgoers, first responders, and lifeguards working together to free the teen from the hole before the high tide.

"Sand is very heavy and moves quite easily. The teens who were trying to free her were not aware that their efforts were making the situation worse," a San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson said. Officials "strategically widened the hole carefully so as not to further trap the teen. She was awake, breathing normally and very calm during the entire incident."

A crowd stood by to watch the rescue, which took about 15 minutes. She was evaluated and released at the scene.

"Everybody clapped. Everybody cheered. That could have been much, much worse," an unidentified witness told CBS 8. "I was so scared for her."

"Digging holes beyond about 3 feet deep is not recommended because it’s not safe," the San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson said. "If beachgoers do dig holes, please replace the sand before you leave the area."

Other recent incidents involving sand holes

Experts have warned that digging deep holes in the sand could have deadly consequences. Last month, a 12-year-old boy was hospitalized after being buried under sand at Silver Lake State Park in Mears, Michigan.

In February,  a 7-year-old girl died after a hole she and her brother were digging holes at a Florida beach.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.