A family Thanksgiving stroll in Texas nearly ended in disaster when a 12-year-old girl was completely buried after a sand hole she was digging suddenly collapsed around her.
Father's Quick Thinking Prevents Tragedy
The terrifying incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Thursday along the Spring Creek trail in The Woodlands, a northern suburb of Houston. According to The Woodlands Fire Department, the girl was on a family outing when a large hole she had excavated gave way, completely submerging her in sand.
Her father acted instantly, managing to clear the sand away from her head and face before emergency crews arrived. This crucial intervention allowed the child to breathe while trapped. "When crews arrived, they found the patient with just her face and head showing," the fire department reported.
Multi-Agency Rescue Operation
First responders from four different agencies worked together in a coordinated effort to free the girl. "Crews worked quickly to shore up the area and then carefully cleared away the sand to extricate the patient," the department stated.
Following her rescue, the girl was evaluated by medics at the scene. Her parents subsequently declined transport to the hospital. The fire department did not specify whether she required any further medical treatment following the ordeal.
A Stark Reminder of Sand Hole Dangers
This near-tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the hidden dangers posed by collapsing sand holes, which have proven fatal in the past.
- In 2024, a seven-year-old girl from Indiana died after a sand hole collapsed on her while she was on holiday with her family in Florida.
- Three years ago, an 18-year-old man lost his life after he and his 17-year-old sister were trapped in a sand collapse on a beach in Ocean County, New Jersey.
The Woodlands Fire Department celebrated the successful outcome, noting that the seamless cooperation between agencies had turned "a near tragedy into a Thanksgiving story that will be told for decades!" The identity of the young girl was not released by authorities.
