Youngster airlifted to hospital after trapped in sandhole 23/7/14
A boy is recovering in hospital after being trapped up to his neck under the sand on a Harris beach.
The 13-
Stornoway Coastguard were told the youngster was stuck in quicksand when alerted to the emergency at 3.40pm this afternoon
Only well after the incident did it emerge that he had been digging a deep hole in the sand which collapsed on top of him on Scarista Beach on Harris.
Tarbert and Stornoway Coastguard rescue teams as well as police and fire services rushed to the scene.
Firefighters, with assistance from paramedics, began digging around the boy in attempts to free him.
Due to the pressure of the sand crushing him, the boy was having difficulty breathing and he was given oxygen whilst crews continued to dig.
After a short time they were able to free him and he was able to breathe on his own.
He was then placed in the care of paramedics before being flown to hospital in Stornoway by coastguard helicopter.
Fire service group manager John MacDonald said: "This incident was an excellent example
of close multi-
"Crews responded very quickly and thankfully were able to release the young man and ensure a successful and happy ending."
He added: "We encourage the public to go out and enjoy the wonderful outdoors of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, but remind everyone to do so with safety in mind."