Posted: 03/01/2013
BRANDON, Fla.(WFTS) - Hillsborough County Florida Fire Rescue says a 36-year-old man is trapped under rubble inside a sinkhole that collapsed the bedroom in his portion of the home.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials say the victim, Jeff Bush, is presumed dead.
The collapse happened around 11:00 p.m. Thursday night.
At the time of the collapse, Bush woke his brother up as he was yelling for help. The brother was trying to pull Bush from the hole, but he could not get him out.
The first Hillsborough County deputy on scene was able to safely pull the brother from the still collapsing hole. Neither the brother nor the deputy were injured.
The brother was assisted by the Red Cross and taken to a local hotel.
It is unsafe for rescue crews to conduct any type of search as the sinkhole is continuing to expand. Currently the sinkhole is approximately 100 feet wide and 50 feet deep.
Listening devices and cameras have been placed inside the hole, but so far there has been no contact with Bush, and no sounds have been heard.
Crews report they can hear sounds of continuous collapse. Officials say the home could completely collapse at any time.
The house has been condemned on an emergency basis. Engineers determined that the bedroom area is the center of the sinkhole.
Neighbors living on both sides of the house have been evacuated as a precaution.
Stay with ABCActionNews.com for the latest on the developing story.
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