Terrifying moment kids get trapped in sinkhole as parents race to dig them out
The two youngsters were seen crying out for the lifeguard's help after water came gushing in to a hole they were digging on California's Newport Beach in August
Two kids were enjoying a day on the beach when they were suddenly sucked into a sinkhole.
The two boys were seen digging a hole on California's Newport Beach but became submerged after the rising tide came crashing in.
The water came cascading into their pit and they became stuck, waist-deep in the sand as their distraught parents desperately tried to dig them out.
The video has amassed more than 20 million views after it was posted. It shows fellow beachgoers scrambling to retrieve the youngsters, using their hands and beach buckets to dig them out.
As they did, one of the boys can be heard scraming out: "Get the lifeguard".
Lifeguards eventually raced to their aid, with one of them bravely jumping into the hole to pull the children from the pit as it caved in on itself.
The second guard built a dam so the water could be redirected away from the death trap.
Thankfully, they eventually managed to free the youngsters.
Lifeguard Mark Herman explained how these events are relatively common.
Sand often appears stable, but even shallow holes can cave in once they are saturated with water.
Speaking to Fox 11, he said: "Once that sand gets wet it gets heavy. It basically buried them from their waist down. They couldn't get themselves out.
"Luckily, these kids, the rest of their body was above [the sand]. But, when tunnelling, or if they've gone too far down and the sand caves in above them, that's when it can get pretty dangerous.
"It's a reminder that the beach is beautiful, but it can be dangerous. Even shallow holes can collapse with little warning. And when the tide is rising, seconds matter. We're enjoying ourselves. But safety is always our most priority."
Brittney Hood, who was on the beach at the time, said she was still troubled by the close call in August.
She said: "I couldn't imagine a hole collapsing on a child. I'm so glad they're okay."
Last year, a coastguard team warned of a "risk to life" after a huge 7ft sinkhole formed on a busy beach in Essex.
HM Coastguard Southend said they were called out on June 12, 2024 after the pit was spotted on Shoebury East Beach, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The hole was cordoned off when the Coastguard arrived. It was believed to be 9ft long, 7ft wide and 7ft deep.
Broken bottles, shells and a small metal spade were also found alongside the hole while some Facebook commenters suggested it could be man-made. The Coastguard warned beach-goers to keep their distance as the collapsing sand could trap them. A HM Coastguard Southend spokesperson said: "Holes will collapse around you and the mix of water and sand will cement you in situ endangering life."