LEADVILLE, Colo. (KDVR) — A man who fell into a 30-foot sinkhole while trying to access his storage unit was pulled to safety Thursday evening after an hours-long rescue effort.
Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue said the bottom of the sinkhole had a substantial amount of ice and water in it, creating a very unstable pit.
Firefighter Alex Conlin rappelled into the sinkhole and helped the man into safety gear, which was attached to a safety line and secured to a fire engine to keep him from sinking into the water.
Additional rescue crews were called after the firefighter determined that the man was injured.
Within a few hours, the man was rescued from the hole and taken by ambulance to a helicopter to be flown to a hospital and treated for his injuries, according to LLCFR.
Conlin was also assessed and provided rehabilitation treatment.
“Risk a lot to save a lot, risk a little to save a little, risk nothing to save nothing,” Conlin said, referring to the rescue effort.