Austrian swimmer caught in sandtrap at beach, has to be rescued
May 9, 2011, 10:07 AM EDT
Look, all we know for sure is that a member of the Austrian National swim team was training in Florida, and decided to go to the beach with some of his teammates. There, he spent all day digging a huge hole in the sand. He jumped into the hole “as a joke” (?), and somewhat predictably, the hole caved in on him.
It took 60 rescuers two hours to dig him out. Kids, let this be a lesson to you.
Authorities say the 19-year-old had spent much of Sunday digging a hole that was 7 feet deep and 6 feet across. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that at 7 p.m., the man, whose name was not released, jumped into the hole as a joke and sand collapsed around him.
Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Sandra King says the man was in danger of being crushed by the pressure from the sand. He was freed about 9 p.m. and taken to a hospital. His condition was unknown.
Seven feet deep? That’s not a hole, that’s a basement. As Michael Phelps would tell you, the beach was made for beer, reclining chairs and girls. Athletes from landlocked countries, please take note.
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Beach hole gulps Olympic swimmer, spurring rescue [NBCSports]
Olympic swimmer rescued from burial on the beach [SunSentinel]
