Jakub Maly rescued from Pompano Beach sand hole
A member of Austria's Olympic swimming team has been rescued after becoming buried in sand on a Florida beach.
Jakub Maly, 19, had spent hours digging a 7ft-deep (2.1m) hole in the sand on Sunday, then jumped in. It collapsed around him, burying him up to the neck.
Rescue workers spent two hours digging him out after bracing the sand around his head to prevent it collapsing more.
Mr Maly was in danger of being crushed by the pressure of the sand. He was taken to hospital, then discharged.
He had been buried up to the neck for about two hours when he was finally rescued, conscious and talking, Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue spokesman Sandra King told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper.
Some members of the Austrian swimming team were training in southern Florida, Ms King said.