Latest news with #beachrescue
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
I almost died digging 8ft deep hole on beach when I was swallowed by QUICKSAND – but I'd do it again
A BRIT who had to be rescued from an eight-foot hole he dug said how he "thought it was my last day" - but confessed he'd probably do it again. Jensen Sturgeon was celebrating his 22nd birthday on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, with his pals - but grew bored of sunbathing and started to dig a hole instead. 6 6 6 6 Initially, Jensen had been digging a hole with his hands, but was soon given a shovel by an intrigued beach worker to aid his efforts. Adventurous Jensen was trying to dig as deep as possible when it turned into a quicksand trap - collapsing around him. The panicked beachgoer's legs started to sink and become stuck as he tried to regain his footing. Jensen told The Sun: "I started tunnelling a little bit, and then whilst I was inside the tunnel, [the sand] all collapsed on me and at the start it was all over my head. "At that point, I thought that was it. It was over my head, and all the sand was around me, and I couldn't move. "It all just came down at once, all a heavy load all on top. "[This] was my most near-death experience I've had - I was like: 'This can't be it?'" As Jensen continued to panic, he desperately called out for his friends to help him, initially to no avail. "I was trying to shout for my mate, so I had a little bit of room next to my face," he said. "Obviously they couldn't hear me, because of all the sand and I was honestly so scared. Terrifying moment apocalyptic SANDSTORM engulfs 10,000 tourists leaving air thick with orange dust sparking evacuations "I didn't know what was gonna happen." The Brit's friends soon got help - with some 30 beachgoers ending up gathering around him to help get him one. One man even climbed into the hole to help Jensen. But because of the amount of sand pushing against him, Jensen said he felt like "it was crushing my chest". "At one point I couldn't breathe," he added. It took a whopping three hours for the gargantuan crowd to rescue him as they scrambled to gather wood, shovels and rope to pull him to the surface. Jensen was even given a beer to cool down - which pals hope might even help his nerves to subside. As he was rescued, the Brit was met with cheers and applause from onlookers who had watched the scene unfold for over three hours. Jensen said: "My legs were just so wobbly. I just collapsed on the floor. I could hardly stand. "I think it's just the amount of pressure of the sand, and maybe fear, I guess, or adrenaline." Despite what appeared to be a near-death experience, Jensen carried on with his Brazil holiday - and confessed it hadn't put him off digging more holes on the beach in the future. He said: "Who doesn't want to dig a big hole at the beach? "I think it might be a guy thing. I just wanted to do it. "I want to say yes [it's taught me a lesson], but I don't think it has." In another video filmed at the airport before he flew home, 22-year-old Jensen said: "I'm Jensen from England and I'm the guy who got stuck in that hole. "I was digging an eight foot hole and, basically what was going through my head [was], I thought I was going to die. "But luckily I had good people to save me. "Obrigado to the people of Rio that helped me out." 6 6
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'I thought I was going to die': Brit tourist rescued from 8ft hole HE dug on Brazil beach tells of terror, but admits 'I think it's just a guy thing where you go to the beach and dig a hole'
A British man who became stuck in an eight-foot hole on a beach in Brazil has told how he 'thought he would die' before being rescued by locals in a terrifying three-hour ordeal. Jensen Sturgeon was celebrating his 22nd birthday in Rio de Janeiro while on holiday with friends on April 26 when the group decided to visit the iconic Copacabana Beach. Mr Sturgeon, a baggage handler at Gatwick airport, began digging a hole while his friends sunbathed and was even handed a shovel by a bemused worker to aid his efforts. But after reaching eight feet he struck water, leading the sand around him to collapse and leaving the Briton stuck. Mr Sturgeon told MailOnline: 'My mate started sunbathing and I thought it would be a great idea to dig a hole. 'We got about eight feet deep and then obvs found water at that point and then it all just came down on me. 'My head was even under the sand. I was trying to shout for my mates and I knew they couldn't hear me.' After fighting against the sand, Mr Sturgeon managed to free his head and call for help, with some 30 people gathering around him in a bid to get him out. 'I was quite scared,' Mr Sturgeon said. 'At one point I looked behind me and I could see a huge pile of sand. I thought if that fell on me that would be it. 'All that was going through my head was, this is it. I really thought I was going to die that day.' It took three hours for the crowd to rescue the tourist, using piece of wood, shovels and lengths of rope to pull him up to the surface. At one point, he was even handed a beer, which he drank in a bid to stay hydrated. He was eventually rescued to cheers and applause from onlookers, as some filmed the dramatic rescue. Mr Sturgeon said: 'When I got out I couldn't stand properly. Everyone was trying to talk to me but I just had to sit back down. My legs were so sore for the rest of the holiday.' After his ordeal, Mr Sturgeon and his friends returned to their hotel where they spent the evening watching TV and eating pizza. Despite his ordeal, the Brit said didn't seek medical attention and will probably do it again. 'I think it's just a guy thing where you go to the beach and dig a hole,' he said. 'I feel like I will end up digging another hole on a beach.' Mr Sturgeon was surprised and 'overwhelmed' when the video footage of the rescue went viral last week, making headlines across Brazil. In a video filmed after the incident, he said: 'I'm Jensen from England and I'm the guy who got stuck in that hole. 'But luckily I had good people to save me. Obrigado to the people of Rio that helped me out.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Body found at Santa Cruz beach near where swimmer went missing
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Santa Cruz police are investigating after a body was found on a beach on Friday afternoon. Santa Cruz officials said they were notified about the body on West Cliff Drive near the lighthouse around 2:15 p.m. The Santa Cruz County Coroner is working on identifying the person. It's unclear how the person died. The backstory On May 4, around 4:45 p.m., two swimmers jumped off a cliff and struggled to swim back to shore. Lifeguards, multiple units with the Santa Cruz Fire Department, Santa Cruz police, Harbor Patrol, and the U.S. Coast Guard all responded to the scene for the water rescue. Scotts Valley and the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County also lent resources for the search. Eventually, one swimmer was able to reach the coast. Officials said they believe the other swimmer was possibly submerged. Authorities launched drones for further assistance, but after an hour of searching, they ended the search from shore-based resources. The Coast Guard continued to search both on the water and from an aircraft. It's unclear if the body is the swimmer who previously went missing. Officials said the identity of the body is pending notification of kin. The Source Santa Cruz Police and Fire Departments
