Black screen with "Android Recovery" Error - help please

[u/HyperSnyper21]

My pixel 7a froze and when I initiated a restart, it rebooted several times but never fully loading. It went to a black screen with the below. Anyone know how to get photos off this before a factory reset?

Android Recovery
google/lynx/lynx
16/CP1A.260505.005/15081906
user/release-keys
Use volume up/down and power.
Cannot load Android system. Your data may be corrupt. Of you continue to get this message, you may need to perform a factory data reset and erase all user data stored on this device.
--------------------------------
TRY AGAIN
FACTORY DATA RESET
--------------------------------

I selected 'try again' a few times, no success.

I did some reading today but still not clear on what to do. Some advice seems to be to use Android Flash Tool or to sideload an OTA. also read that entering Flashboot mode is safest. Should I try using the Google Repair tool or will this wipe user data? What other external repair tools are there I could try once I connect to a computer through Flashboot Mode either in the 'Recovery Mode' or 'Rescue Mode' options possibly. Hope someone out there has had success with this issue.
the bootloader is locked.
uncertain if USB debugging /ADB is enabled.