Petersburg firefighters rescue victim from sinkhole-tunnel
By BECKY ROBINETTE WRIGHT, Senior Correspondent | November 11, 2021 | VIRGINIA
Story No. 111121100
Photo by Photo courtesy Petersburg Fire-RescueOn Nov.1, a woman plunged into a 20 foot sinkhole- tunnel.
Photo by Photo courtesy Petersburg Fire-Rescue
Photo by Photo courtesy Petersburg Fire-Rescue
Photo by Photo courtesy Petersburg Fire-Rescue
PETERSBURG,VA-On Nov 1 , a woman walking in the 100 block of E. Bank Street, through Petersburg, went past a barricaded area and fell in a twenty foot drop to the bottom of a sinkhole, partially uncovered tunnel. Water flowed and large boulders were scattered throughout the tunnel.
The woman landed on a boulder and was partially in the water, Battalion Chief A.G. Ross said. Air temperature was around 60 degrees and with the cold water, hypothermia was a danger.
Fire and medical personnel arrived on scene in less than five minutes.
Petersburg Truck 1 quickly positioned and set up for a stokes basket operation.
Ladders were placed and gas monitors used.
Petersburg Engine 2 and Medic 3 provided patient care.
The patient was packaged, removed from the sinkhole tunnel and transported to VCU Medical Center.
This article is a direct street report from our correspondent and has not been edited by the 1st Responder newsroom.