A 12-year-old girl found herself in a perilous situation in Texas when a “large hole” she was digging in the sand suddenly caved in, trapping her. Fortunately, she was rescued thanks to the swift response of local emergency teams.

The incident took place on Thanksgiving Day around 5 p.m., just outside of Houston. Multiple agencies, led by the Woodlands Fire Department, responded to a distress call reporting a child trapped following a sand collapse.

According to the Woodlands Fire Department, the young girl, who was enjoying a family outing on a sandbar along the West Bank of Panther Creek, was completely buried when the hole she was digging gave way. Her father acted quickly, managing to clear the sand from around her head, thus enabling her to breathe until help arrived.

When the emergency crews reached the scene, they found the girl with only her face and head visible above the sand. Firefighters, medics, and deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were on hand to assist in the rescue effort.

With urgency, the responders reinforced the unstable sand area and carefully excavated to free the trapped girl. Their prompt action ensured a successful rescue, concluding what could have been a tragic holiday incident.

“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.