Wife Kills Self, Husband with 2.5m Deep Beach Pitfall Trap

A young woman who accidentally killed herself and her husband by digging a 2.5m deep pitfall trap in the sand is currently the subject of tragic ridicule throughout Japan.

The incident transpired on an Ishikawa prefecture beach, when a 23-year-old woman resolved to “surprise” her 23-year-old husband with a pitfall trap.

Together with “four or five” male friends, she spent the afternoon digging out a 2.5m deep and 2.4m wide hole in the sand using shovels, which she then covered with a sheet, which was further disguised with more sand.

She then waited until nightfall and invited her husband out onto the beach, accompanying him to the site of trap.

As planned, both fell into the trap, but it promptly fell in around them and proved impossible to escape.

Nearby friends heard their screams and called in the fire brigade, but by the time they had rescued them from the hole several hours had elapsed and both showed no signs of life.

The couple were taken to hospital, only to be pronounced dead on arrival. They are thought to have suffocated in the sand.

According to other beach-goers, the group digging the huge hole were warned that they should fill in the hole and go home as it was dangerous, but they only acknowledged the warning and continued their undertaking anyway.

Police are considering pressing charges of involuntary manslaughter against the surviving group.

Such is the awesome stupidity of their deaths that there is even some speculation that there may have been more sinister motives afoot, although there are also those who merely see them as strong Darwin award contenders (2010 was nearly won by the Korean wheelchair vs elevator man).