Local News
The 18-year-old was buried up to his chest when multiple agencies responded to help free him.
First responders raced to rescue an 18-year-old who became buried up to his chest in sand at a Sandwich beach Tuesday, as he continued to sink deeper.
According to the Sandwich Fire Department, they received a report at 3:43 p.m. of a child stuck in a hole at Scusset Beach, with sand collapsing around him, in the area of 349 Phillips Road.
Bourne firefighters responded first because the beach sits on the canal’s off-Cape side. On arrival, Bourne and Sandwich fire crews found the 18-year-old buried up to his chest in the sand. He told first responders that he was sinking further.
Initial responders attempted to dig him out, but more sand collapsed on the teen, officials said.
A request for the Barnstable County Technical Rescue team was made, as well as for specialized Heavy Rescue equipment from Joint Base Cape Cod, Hyannis Fire, Plymouth Fire, and Wareham Fire.
About 25 responders from Sandwich Fire and Police, Bourne Fire and Police, Massachusetts State Police, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation worked to shore up the hole that the teen was in.
Paramedics started advanced life support care on the teen as he awaited extrication, and a Boston MedFlight helicopter was requested.
The responders worked for 30 minutes to free the teen, who was in the hole for about 45 minutes overall. The teen was conscious and alert, and first responders transported him to the former Ella F. Hoxie Elementary School, where the medical helicopter took him to Rhode Island Hospital in stable condition.
Another person was also evaluated on the scene but refused transport.
Hole digging at beaches is notoriously dangerous. Previous examples of sand collapsing have resulted in deaths. In one past incident in 2024, rescuers had to use a protective tube to rescue a child at a Cape Cod beach. And a man needed to be rescued on Martha’s Vineyard in 2015 after he dug a six- to eight-foot hole that caved in on him.
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