The man became trapped after the hole collapsed around him on Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, on Thursday afternoon. When friends struggled to free him, police and firefighters were called to lead a rescue operation.

       The man, branded an "absolute idiot" online, is now recovering from injuries suffered in the ordeal.

       Cornwall Live reports his peril is the latest in a number of cases in which tunnelling or digging under the sand on beaches has gone awry.

       Newquay Police Response tweeted: "Part of an amazing #rescue today @ #Fistral#Newquay, a man dug a hole in the sand, which collapsed on him, friends and beach goers @NewquayCFRS@CornwallFRS@CRTNewquay@NewquayRNLI & @NewquayPolice@swasFT all worked together to dig man to safety. Hoping for a full recovery."

       A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called by the coastguard at 5.30pm last night (1 July) to Fistral Beach following reports that sand had collapsed onto a male causing him to become trapped.

       "Emergency services and members of the public removed him from the hole and he was left in the care of the ambulance service."

       In August 2018, a 14-year-old boy was described as having an “extremely lucky escape” after getting stuck up to the neck in a collapsed hole in Newquay.

       He was digging in the sand when the 6ft deep hole caved in, trapping him up to his neck.