Florida firefighters performed a dramatic rescue of a woman who was trapped in a sinkhole 40 feet underground for nearly 11 hours Thursday.
The woman and her male friend were driving through the woods at about 8 p.m. Wednesday in High Springs when they crashed into a sinkhole filled with water, according to the High Springs Fire Department. They both escaped the vehicle, but only the man could climb up the steep slope while the woman remained stranded in the sinkhole.
The man was able to call for help, and High Springs Fire Department and Alachua County Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene. They used four-wheel drive trucks and ATVs in order to get equipment and personnel to the challenging location and begin formulating a rescue plan.
High Springs Fire Lt. Kevin Pearson rappelled down the sinkhole to reach the woman and secure her to a harness and rope system. She then was hoisted out of the sinkhole just before 7:30 a.m., with no serious injuries.
