Operation in the sinkhole: hopes of rescue dashed - body recovered

USA - After a pensioner was swallowed up by a sinkhole last Monday and rescuers had hoped to find her alive, there is now the sad certainty.

Elizabeth Pollard (64) fell into this sinkhole.
Elizabeth Pollard (64) fell into this sinkhole.  © State Police Trooper Stephen Lim/Pennsylvania State Police via AP/dpa

It was announced at a press conference yesterday, Friday, that the body of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard was found at around 11.05 a.m. in the US state of Pennsylvania.

As People now reported, she was found about nine meters below the ground and about three meters southwest of the place where the original hole was created.

The fire chief also noted that the woman's body had to be recovered by machine because "it wasn't safe to send anyone down".

Currently, the body is with a medical examiner to perform an autopsy and determine the cause of death.

Elizabeth Pollard died after falling into a hole in the ground

The search for the missing pensioner lasted around four days.
The search for the missing pensioner lasted around four days.  © Matt Freed/AP/dpa

It was also stated that the hole in the ground is believed to have been caused by a mine that had begun to decay.

The 64-year-old is said to have fallen into the mine shaft, hit a hill and rolled about three meters from there.

Regarding the community's concern over the sinkhole, the police spokesman added that authorities are currently working to backfill the earth and install a grout to shore up the entire area.

"I'm glad it was found, but not in the condition we had hoped. We had hoped that maybe she had fallen, hit her head and was unconscious or in a coma and that it wouldn't come to this," said her son Axel.

Nevertheless, the family was relieved that the body had been recovered. He added: "All I can say is that I'm grateful to everyone for their hard work and efforts in finding my mother."