WATCH: Rescuers dig California girl from hole amid incoming tide

MISSION BEACH, California (KMID/KPEJ) – A frantic digging effort from lifeguards’ rangers and bystanders attempted to free a 16-year-old girl from an 8-foot hole which collapsed around her, pinning her in place with the tide moving in.

“We saw that she had been buried up to her neck we could only see her head and her arms sticking out,” said Lieutenant Jacob Magness with the San Diego Lifeguards.

The teen’s friends had been digging with no success, so they flagged down lifeguards from 100 yards down the beach and the trench emergency call brought in crews from all over.

“Since I already had a shovel in my hand, they said don’t bother this guy he already has a shovel in his hand, so I was just digging like crazy,” said Richard Mastan.

Mastan said he has never seen anything like this rescue in his life. “I was so scared for her because she was way down there,” he said.

After 30 minutes of digging, rescuers and friends freed the young woman and “everyone started cheering” “everyone clapped, everyone started cheering so it was a great thing, cause that could’ve been much much worse.”

Locals said the danger of digging holes adds a new dynamic to the idea of a day at the beach.

“I was worried about the drowning, but apparently you’ve got to be worried about the sand too,” said Michael Valasquez, a witness to the rescue.

As the 16-year-old was checked out and released to her parents, the admiration for the rescuers’ efforts lingered on the beach.

“Thank you for all the support you have done for us, and we wish we could be like you guys more often,” said Noah Gastelum, another witness to the rescue.

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