Two children were freed after becoming trapped in a collapsing sand hole near the Newport Beach Pier in Southern California, in an incident caught on video that has been viewed more than 20 million times.
The boys were digging a hole on the sand when waves surged in and saturated the pit, causing the walls to cave and pin the children waist-deep in wet sand, according to Newport Beach lifeguards. Adults on the beach initially attempted to dig them out with hands and plastic buckets before three lifeguards sprinted to the scene and worked to free the boys as water rose in the hole.
Once the sand becomes saturated, it can grow heavy and unstable, making it difficult for entrapped people to move, Newport Beach lifeguards said. "Once that sand gets wet it gets heavy," Capt. Mark Herman told Fox 11. "It basically buried them from their waist down. They couldn't get themselves out." Lifeguards on the scene dug with their hands and fashioned a makeshift dam as the tide continued to push water into the pit.
The incident occurred in August, but the footage only came to public attention after it was released in early September. Video posted online shows several adults frantically trying to free the boys before lifeguards arrived; one of the children could be heard calling, "Get the lifeguard!" After several tense minutes, personnel were able to loosen enough sand to free both boys. They were seen posing for the camera after being rescued.
Bystander Brittney Hood, who witnessed the rescue, said she was shaken by the scene. "I couldn't imagine a hole collapsing on a child," she said. "I'm so glad they're okay."
Newport Beach officials noted that collapses of shallow sand holes are more common than beachgoers may realize. Dry sand can appear stable, but when water saturates it the material can compress and lock around limbs, and rising tides can quickly convert a seemingly safe play area into a hazard. "It's a reminder that the beach is beautiful, but it can be dangerous," Capt. Herman said. "Even shallow holes can collapse with little warning. And when the tide is rising, seconds matter."
Lifeguards and beach safety organizations have long warned about the risks of digging deep or extensive pits near the tide line, where advancing waves can undermine walls and saturate sand. Newport Beach lifeguards said their personnel responded quickly and that the boys were not seriously injured. The episode underscores the role of trained rescuers at busy public beaches and the narrow window available for a safe extraction when sand becomes saturated and tides are rising.