MAN REMOVED FROM SINK HOLE IN WEST EUGENE

Eugene Springfield Fire

Eugene Springfield Fire received a call at 1:40 pm on Tuesday for a man who fell into a sink hole.  The location of the call was near the area of Royal Avenue and Fischer Road, west of Eugene. Members of the department's Technical Rescue Team responded to find a 67 year-old man approximately 16 feet below surface level, partially submerged in water.  The hole was located near the foundation of his home.  It is unknown what caused the hole to appear and was not previously known to the victim.  Crews were able to quickly remove the man from the hole and determined that he did not have any injuries due to the fall.  The man was in the hole for 20-30 minutes prior to being able to being helped out.  The hole size remained stable throughout the rescue and did not pose any additional difficulties to rescuers.  Sink holes are not a common occurrence in the lower Willamette Valley.