UK Coastguard Warns Over Deep Sand Holes at Busy Beaches
Holidaymakers visiting UK beaches are being advised to avoid digging deep holes in the sand after safety concerns were raised by coastal authorities. The warning comes from the coastguard in Cleethorpes, a well-known seaside town in Lincolnshire, where families regularly gather along its long sandy shoreline, pier and traditional attractions during the warmer months.
Officials say deep holes can collapse without warning, trapping those inside. As the sand dries, it loosens, especially around steep edges, making the sides more likely to give way and harder to climb out. Similar incidents have been reported in other locations, including Sandilands and Weymouth beaches, where coastguards filled in large holes after they were found to be over one metre deep. In one case, it took three people around 30 minutes to make the area safe again, and such situations can require full rescue teams if someone becomes trapped.
“It’s like an avalanche effect, where the sand just keeps collapsing and collapsing, and then people just get completely buried in it.”
Beach safety advice to follow
- Avoid digging holes deeper than waist height
- Do not create tunnels in the sand
- Stay aware of others nearby, especially children
- Fill in any holes before leaving the beach
The advice is meant to keep beaches safe without changing how people usually spend time there. Digging in the sand is still part of a typical beach day, but deeper holes can cause problems once the area gets busy.
Families can still spend time at beaches such as Cleethorpes, Weymouth and other UK seaside spots as usual. Digging in the sand remains common, especially with children, but large or deep holes can create problems for others using the same area. On busy beaches, these can be hard to spot and may lead to someone stepping into them or getting stuck.
Coastguard teams say most incidents are linked to deep holes left open in crowded areas. Loose sand, foot traffic and changing conditions can make these holes unstable or harder to spot later in the day. Keeping digging shallow and covering holes before leaving helps reduce the chance of accidents without changing how people normally use the beach.
