A father’s quick-thinking and Texas emergency services’ fast response saved a 12-year-old girl from Thanksgiving tragedy on Thursday, officials said.

The girl became trapped when sand collapsed on her as she dug a hole in a sandbar during a family outing at Panther Creek that afternoon, according to the Woodlands Fire Department.

A 12-year-old girl was on a family outing before she became trapped in a large hole in the sand she was digging on Thanksgiving afternoon.
The Woodlands Fire Department

“Her father rushed to her and was able to clear the sand from around her head allowing her to breathe,” the department said in a Facebook post. “When crews arrived they found the patient with just her face and head showing. Crews worked quickly to shore up the area and then carefully cleared away the sand to extricate the patient.”

The victim was rescued by multiple responding agencies Thursday evening in Texas.
The Woodlands Fire Department

Multiple emergency response agencies rushed to the scene on the creek’s west bank in The Woodlands, outside of Houston, officials said.

The victim was unhurt and released to her parents after a medical evaluation, according to authorities.

“First responders from four agencies worked together seamlessly to turn a near tragedy into a Thanksgiving story that will be told for decades!” the fire department said.