An Arizona man narrowly escaped a terrifying ordeal after the ground gave way in his own backyard, sending him plunging six feet into a sinkhole as a nearby pickup truck began sinking into the same opening.
The dramatic incident unfolded around 3 p.m. Sunday, November 1, at a home near 24th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix, where firefighters arrived to find the man trapped underground and unable to climb to safety.
According to the Phoenix Fire Department, the man suffered a chest injury during the fall, leaving him stranded at the bottom of the hole. Making matters worse, a white pickup truck had partially fallen into the collapsing ground, creating another dangerous obstacle for rescuers.
With the vehicle at risk of slipping farther into the opening, firefighters first worked to stabilize the truck before attempting to reach the injured man.
Dramatic footage released by the department shows emergency crews surrounding the massive opening as a specially trained rescue technician descends into the hole. Using rescue equipment, firefighters carefully brought the man back to the surface.
Despite the frightening circumstances, the rescue was successful. Paramedics evaluated the man before transporting him to a nearby hospital in stable condition. No firefighters were injured during the operation.
The bizarre accident followed a weekend of heavy storms that brought widespread flooding to parts of Arizona. Phoenix Fire Capt. DJ Lee told The Arizona Republic that the sinkhole was likely caused by the heavy rainfall, although the exact cause has not been confirmed.
Authorities have not publicly identified the man or released additional details about his injuries. As of Monday, there had been no further update on his condition.
The incident serves as a frightening reminder of how quickly unstable ground can become dangerous, even in the familiar surroundings of someone’s own backyard.
What began as an ordinary Sunday afternoon ended with a man trapped underground, a pickup truck sinking into the earth and firefighters racing to prevent an already dangerous situation from getting worse.
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