American resident Danielle Tammon was rescued using a ladder after falling 2.5 metres into a hole that opened suddenly in her backyard.
The incident occurred on her property in the United States, where the ground unexpectedly gave way beneath her feet. American television broadcaster News12 reported that Tammon became trapped in a deep pit filled with water and sod before neighbours alerted emergency service dispatchers.
Tammon described the experience as strange, noting that everything happened remarkably fast. Within moments, she dropped 2.5 metres below ground level into a pit containing water and turf, leaving her unable to climb back up to the surface without assistance.
While stuck in the pit, Tammon grew concerned about the stability of the soil around her. She said she feared that dirt and stones along the upper edges of the opening would loosen and fall down on top of her.
Neighbourly intervention and rescue operation
Determined to get help, Tammon began shouting and screaming at the top of her voice to attract the attention of anyone in the area. Her persistent calls eventually alerted nearby neighbours, who dialled 911 to report the emergency.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the call. Using a ladder lowered into the hole, rescue personnel helped Tammon climb out of the ground.
Authorities believe that Tammon fell into an old, disused well that had remained hidden beneath the surface of the yard. Over time, covered wells can deteriorate and erode, causing the earth above them to cave in unexpectedly.
Despite the sudden drop, Tammon emerged from the pit without any injuries. She reported feeling fine after the ordeal, explaining that the landing inside the pit was relatively soft and expressing relief that she had avoided falling onto a hard stone.
Property hazards and previous occurrences
Disused wells and underground cavities represent a recognised hazard on residential properties across the United States. Many older homes were built over hand-dug wells or cisterns that were later covered over rather than filled in, creating potential sinkhole sites as support structures decay.
In the United States, emergency services frequently handle unusual entrapment incidents involving subterranean structures. The primary contact for such emergencies is the 911 system, which coordinates fire departments, rescue units, and medical teams to extract individuals trapped in confined spaces.
The event comes after another unusual underground rescue reported in the United States, in which a Kansas City man fell into a cesspool. He spent eight hours trapped inside the septic pit after falling in while trying to retrieve a bottle of soda he had dropped into a public toilet.
