Teen rescued after being buried chest-deep in sand on Cape Cod beach
About 25 first responders worked for roughly 45 minutes to free the 18-year-old as sand continued collapsing around him.
A man who had been reported missing days before was found buried shoulder-deep in mud, requiring a three-hour process to get him free.
First responders on Cape Cod raced to save an 18-year-old who became buried up to his chest in sand Tuesday, a dangerous situation that can quickly lead to suffocation.
The Sandwich Fire Department responded Tuesday afternoon to a report of a person trapped in a sand hole near a beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Crews found the teen buried up to his chest as sand continued collapsing around him while responders tried to dig him out.
First responders from multiple agencies work to free an 18-year-old trapped in sand near Sandwich, Massachusetts, on Aug. 18, 2026. (Image credit: Sandwich Fire Department)
About 25 first responders from multiple agencies worked for roughly 45 minutes to free the teen, using specialized rescue equipment. Crews from Joint Base Cape Cod, Hyannis Fire, Plymouth Fire and Wareham Fire assisted in the rescue.
Once the teen was freed, paramedics began providing medical care. He was flown to Rhode Island Hospital in stable condition, officials said. A second person was treated at the scene.
How sand play can quickly turn deadly
Collapsing sand holes are relatively uncommon, but they can become deadly within minutes.
Stephen P. Leatherman, a professor of coastal science at Florida International University, wrote in 2024 that research suggests more people die from sand burial suffocation than from shark attacks.
Sand is more stable when wet because surface tension between water and sand grains can help hold the sand in place. As the sand dries, however, it becomes more likely to collapse.
Rescuing someone from a collapsed sand hole can also be difficult because the weight of rescuers near the opening can cause more sand to fall in. Experts recommend keeping beach holes no deeper than the knee height of the shortest person in the group, with a maximum depth of about 2 feet. A person trapped beneath collapsing sand may have only three to five minutes before suffocation becomes a threat.
First responders train for sand-collapse rescues, but some incidents still end in tragedy.
“Do not build tunnels under the sand. Being buried under sand can result in asphyxiation and crush injuries, which can quickly lead to suffocation and death. Teach your kids/teens the dangers of digging holes/tunnels in the sand,” Barnegat and Stafford, New Jersey, first aid teams wrote during sand-collapse training.
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