Firefighters rescued a woman who fell about 25 feet into an out-of-use septic tank in Fontana Thursday morning, authorities announced, adding that she was conscious throughout the ordeal.
Firefighters work to remove the woman from the 25-foot hole. They were able to talk to her throughout her ordeal, but they couldn't see her.
(San Bernardino County Fire)
The San Bernardino County Fire Department was on the scene of the rescue at a home at 8200 Cherry Avenue, the agency posted. on social media shortly after 10 a.m. Initially, firefighters reported that the woman fell into a sinkhole, but later clarified that the hole was actually an old septic tank that was no longer in use. The woman lived at the residence and when she walked on top of the septic tank, the soil gave way along with the concrete top of the tank, according to San Bernardino County Fire Department PIO Eric Sherwin.
While the woman was able to speak to her rescuers, firefighters were unable to see her from the surface, according to the agency.
Images shared by the fire agency showed firefighters crouching around the hole, some lying face down as they looked down. Members of the San Bernardino County Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team arrived to assist with the confined rescue operation.
A firefighter was lowered into the hole using a rope and other equipment while other rescuers held on to a pulley system installed on the surface. Shortly before 12:00 p.m., the woman was taken out in the firefighter's arms, according to a photograph shared by firefighters. The woman was evaluated by paramedics at the scene and taken to a hospital for an evaluation of injuries to her lower body.
