Emergency responders pulled a boy from a sinkhole in Lillington, North Carolina, hours after he fell into the mud. The 12-year-old was riding his bike near a new construction site when he fell into a sediment pond. He managed to remain calm and eventually flagged down help.
A team of rescuers worked to free the boy, who survived what could have been a devastating accident.
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The boy was reportedly in the mud for several hours.
The unidentified boy ended up in the mud while riding his bike on November 3, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. He reportedly tried yelling for help for more than two hours while trapped in the mud up to his chest before anyone heard him. Per the newspaper, a group of children in the area finally heard his cries and found his mother, who called 911.
It took multiple agencies to rescue the boy.
WNCN reported that professionals from the Lillington and Summerville Bunnlevel fire departments, Harnett County Fire Marshal's Office, Emergency Management, Lillington Police Department, and county emergency medical service workers responded to the incident on Day Song Court, off NC 210, about five miles north of Lillington.
The crew received the call around 6:16 p.m. and pulled him from the hole just after 7 p.m., WNCN noted.
The boy appeared to be OK.
According to Inside Edition, the boy told the rescue team that he felt cold but was not hurt. He was reportedly put on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital for observation. His current condition was unknown.
Another sinkhole in North Carolina caused significant issues in June.
A sinkhole formed at US 401 North near Graham Road in Cumberland County in June, according to WNCN. The road was deemed "impassable," and police diverted traffic from the area.
During that time, a semitruck tried to brake and avoid the area but instead struck an officer and drove a portion of the truck into the sinkhole. The officer was injured but expected to be fine.
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Sinkholes can be pretty dangerous.
Sinkholes form naturally, and although rare, they can cause big issues in some cases.
Per the US Geological Survey, "a sinkhole is an area of ground that has no natural external surface drainage – when it rains, the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface. Sinkholes can vary from a few feet to hundreds of acres and from less than 1 to more than 100 feet deep. Some are shaped like shallow bowls or saucers whereas others have vertical walls; some hold water and form natural ponds."
Per the agency, the most significant sinkhole collapse in the US occurred in Alabama in 1972. The "Golly Hole" collapsed suddenly and is about 300 feet wide, 325 feet long, and 120 feet deep.
