A large-scale rescue operation has begun for a 46-year-old man stuck up to his waist in sand in the three-meter deep hole.
Emergency services were called to the home on Orbell Road in Hillarys at around 3pm (5pm AEST) today.
The man was about three meters down in the hole that he and his landlord had apparently been digging for the past four days in search of a sewer pipe.
The sand gave way that afternoon, trapping one of his feet, and the rest of the ground was considered unstable.
A no-go zone was set up around the hole in the backyard as crews tried to relieve pressure on the hole to stop it from collapsing.
As city search and rescue crews worked to shore up and stabilize the hole, the man remained in good spirits, if somewhat embarrassed, and was given a towel and water.
A special vacuum truck was eventually brought in to help with the rescue and removal of the sand and the man around 6:30 p.m.
The man was taken to hospital in stable condition for examination.
