Why you should never dig big holes at the beach after strict new warning
SANDS BAD Why you should never dig big holes at the beach after strict new warning
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IT doesn't matter how old you get, the novelty of digging a hole in the sand or building a sandcastle will never wear off.
Yet, there is actually a reason why you should never do this popular beach time activity.
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Beach holes can be very dangerous
Credit: Mablethorpe Coastguard
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Especially when the sand dries out and the hole collapses
Credit: Mablethorpe Coastguard
According to coastguards, any hole that is dug and left on a beach is dangerous for beachgoers, including children and pets.
The warning follows an incident this week on Sandilands Beach in Lincolnshire, where the Mablethorpe Coastguard Rescue Team responded to an alert from HM Coastguard Humber regarding a six foot deep hole.
The coastguard filled the hole "for safety reasons", according to the BBC, as it posed a risk of injury and "entrapment should the hole collapse".
This doesn't mean you can't dig holes on the beach for kids to play in - but if you do dig a hole so deep you head can barely poke out, you could be putting your own or others' lives at risk.
The deeper a hole is, the more unstable it becomes.
And sand that you dig out of the hole that is wet, will dry out and this makes it looser.
This increases the chance of the hole collapsing inwards, potentially trapping you.
According to GOV.CO.UK, the best way to rescue someone is to create a circle of people digging with their hands.
And then another outer circle of people doing the same, while also remove the sand from the first circle.
Having multiple circles of people helps to create a larger, shallower hole which is less likely to collapse.
English seaside town to transform abandoned beach shelters into new attraction
Any holes you do dig, you should then fill in before you leave the beach.
In June 2023, a 14-year-old boy became trapped after a four foot hole he had dug, collapsed on him.
His parents called for help and after an hour the boy was eventually dug out, unharmed.
There are also 40 'do not swim' warnings across the UK for this weekend.
This is due to raised levels of bacteria in the water caused by animal waste coming from seabirds.
Bacteria levels are the highest through July and August and is believed to be due to the lack of rainfall and an increase in tourism.
A handy map released by GOV.CO.UK, shows where you should and shouldn't swim this weekend.
Full list of locations hit by 'do not swim' warnings Littlehaven Beach
Tynemouth Cullercoats
Derwent Water at Crow Park
Coniston Water, Boating Centre
Blackpool North
St Annes North
River Ribble at Edisford Bridge
Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
Wharfe at Wilderness Carpark
Nidd at the Lido, Knaresborough
Bridlington South Beach
Scarborough South Bay
Heacham
River Severn at Ironbridge
River Severn in Shrewsbury
River Teme in Ludlow
Sheep's Green, River Cam
Wolvercote Mill Stream
Wallingford Beach, River Thames
Clacton (Groyne 41)
Deal Castle
Littlestone
Dymchurch
Frensham Great Pond
Worthing Beach House
Bognor Regis (Aldwick)
Southsea East
River Avon at Fordingbridge
Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach
River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford
Burnham Jetty North
Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
Weston Main
River Tone at French Weir Park
Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach
Blue Anchor West
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth
Instow
Steamer Quay, Dart Estuary
Porthluney
Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary
A famous UK seaside resort has also rolled out a mass walkie-talkie scheme to crack down on drunk tourists sparking chaos.
Plus, Britain's 'busiest beach' has introduced a strict alcohol rule as thousands flock to seaside this weekend.
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