A young girl, aged 12, was safely rescued in Texas after she became trapped in a large hole she had been digging in the sand, according to local officials.

The incident occurred on Thanksgiving Day when multiple agencies, including the Woodlands Fire Department near Houston, were called to respond around 5 p.m. to reports of a child trapped following a sand cave-in.

Emergency personnel, including firefighters, medics, and deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, rushed to a sandbar on the West Bank of Panther Creek, located just south of a pedestrian bridge. There, they discovered that a family outing had taken a dangerous turn when the 12-year-old girl’s sand digging project collapsed, completely burying her.

In a quick-thinking move, the girl’s father managed to clear the sand from around her head, ensuring she could breathe until help arrived. When the emergency teams reached the scene, they found her with only her face and head visible.

The Woodlands Fire Department confirmed the successful rescue of the girl, who was fortunate to escape a potentially dire situation.

“Crews worked quickly to shore up the area and then carefully cleared away the sand to extricate the patient,” the fire department also said. 

Officials released images showing first responders holding shovels at the scene of the incident. 

The Woodlands Fire Department said the rescue happened on the west bank of Panther Creek on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (Woodlands Fire Department)

The agencies that responded included the South Montgomery County Fire Department and the Montgomery County Hospital District.

“After medics evaluated her, she was released to her parents who declined transport to the hospital,” the Woodlands Fire Department said.  

The Woodlands Fire Department said the child was released to her parents following a medical evaluation. (Woodlands Fire Department)

“First responders from four agencies worked together seamlessly to turn a near tragedy into a Thanksgiving story that will be told for decades!” it added.