Lifeguards, firefighters and San Diego park rangers then “strategically widened the hole carefully so as not to further trap the teen,” Muñoz said. The teen, who was buried up to her chest, with her arms above the sand, was awake and calm during the rescue process.
The teen was freed from the sand hole after about 15 minutes and was released to a parent of one of her friends after being evaluated by medical personnel.
SDFD lifeguards do not recommend digging holes beyond 3 feet deep, Muñoz said. Beachgoers who do decide to dig holes are advised to fill them back in before leaving, as holes in the sand can cause injury to beachgoers and first responders patrolling the beach.
Mónica Muñoz, a spokesperson with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, told SFGATE that a woman had informed lifeguards at about 5 p.m. that a group of teenagers were struggling to dig a teen girl out of a deep hole in the sand near lifeguard tower 13 ½. The lifeguards instantly recognized this as an emergency situation, Muñoz said.
Muñoz said the teens attempting to dig the girl out were not aware that their efforts were worsening the situation, as sand is very heavy and was moving easily into the hole, which was an estimated 8 to 10 feet deep.
