Woman and dog fall into 20-foot sinkhole

Updated
Lady Survives Fall Into 20-Foot Sinkhole
Lady Survives Fall Into 20-Foot Sinkhole


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland fire official says a woman and her dog have been rescued unharmed after falling into a 20-foot-deep sinkhole that opened up in her backyard.

Portland Fire & Rescue Lt. Rich Chatman says the woman in her 30s was trying to find her small poodle mix Tuesday night in her dark Portland backyard when she fell into a sinkhole about 3½ feet in diameter. A neighbor who heard her calls for help called 911.

This image shows the sinkhole where a woman was rescued unharmed after falling into the 20-foot-deep sinkhole that opened up in her backyard Tuesday night Feb. 18, 2014.
This image shows the sinkhole where a woman was rescued unharmed after falling into the 20-foot-deep sinkhole that opened up in her backyard Tuesday night Feb. 18, 2014.

Fire crews used rope and ground ladders to rescue them. Chatman says fire officials at the scene were amazed that both escaped unhurt.

The spokesman says a neighbor who shares a property line said both homeowners had been required to do some recent work on their sewage system.

Crews were covering up the hole temporarily late Tuesday.

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