Mystery 8ft sand hole dug by hand appears on Poldark beach
- The man-made pit had been dug in the sand on Tregirls beach, near Padstow
- The coastguard had to use a digger from Padstow Farm to fill it back in
A mysterious 8ft sand hole has appeared on a Cornish beach, sparking fears from locals for their children's safety.
The man-made gaping pit had been dug in the sand on Tregirls beach, near Padstow, with warnings being issued from the coastguard that 'sand hole collapses can cause deaths'.
Standing at 9ft wide and 8ft deep, a digger was eventually called in from Padstow Farm to fill it back up again after it was first spotted on Saturday.
The beach is well known by fans of the BBC series Poldark, a five season show about a returning British army veteran of the American revolutionary war, which used Cornwall's untouched beauty for many of its sets.
A mysterious 8ft sand hole has appeared on a Cornish beach, sparking fears from locals for their children's safety
The man-made gaping pit had been dug in the sand on Tregirls beach, near Padstow, with warnings being issued from the Coastguard that 'sand hole collapses can cause deaths'
An HM Coastguard Padstow spokesman said: 'We are aware of the large hole that has been dug on Tregirls Beach and the danger this presents to the general public. We have arranged for a local farmer to fill it in using a telehandler.
'This particular hole is approximately 9 feet wide and 8 feet deep and had been dug by hand. The potential for it to cause injury to the unwary, or to collapse in on children exploring it should not be underestimated. Sand hole collapses can cause fatalities.
'Please do not dig holes like this on our (or any other) beaches, and fill in any small ones that your children dig before you leave.
'The fact that a telehandler is required to fill this particular one in speaks volumes about the danger it presents.'
The beach is well known by fans of the BBC series Poldark, a five season show about a returning British army veteran of the American revolutionary war, which used Cornwall's untouched beauty for many of its sets
Locals were also furious that someone had decided to dig and leave the potentially lethal hole.
Venting their frustration on social media one person wrote: 'Anyone that finds this funny, clearly can't remember the children that have died after these sort of holes collapse onto them.
'Thank goodness it's been filled in again.
Another said: 'Thank goodness locals are alerted and it can be filled in. No-one should underestimate the power of deep holes dug in the sand to cause tragedy.
'Just don't do it.'
A third added: 'My good friend snapped a tendon and fractured her foot stepping back into a human dug channel on Daymer beach last Easter.
'Ignorant behaviour which led to a nasty injury.'
A fourth said: 'They were lucky it didn’t collapse on them whilst digging it out!! Well done yo all involved in spotting, reporting and filling it in.'
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