A disabled grandmother nearly drowned after falling into a sinkhole while trying to save her dog in North Yorkshire
Eston: A disabled grandmother had a terrifying experience when she fell into a sinkhole while trying to save her dog. Carol Carne, 61, was out walking her three cockapoos when her dog Ruby fell into what looked like a big puddle.
In a panic, Carol rushed to help Ruby but ended up falling into the icy water herself. She was completely submerged and struggled to keep both herself and Ruby afloat. Luckily, three strangers heard her screams and came to the rescue.
Carol believes she wouldn’t have made it without their help. She recalled letting her dogs off the lead when she noticed the water ahead. At first, she thought it was just a puddle, but then she saw a plastic barrier and called the dogs back.
While Pippa and Stitch returned, Ruby fell in. Carol tried to use her stick to pull Ruby out, but the ground gave way beneath her, and she fell in too. She described the moment as terrifying, saying she opened her eyes underwater and realized how deep she had gone.
It was freezing, and she managed to swim to the surface, grabbing Ruby, who was struggling to stay above water. Carol was gasping for air and couldn’t find solid ground to climb out. She screamed for help, feeling like it took forever for someone to reach her.
Two women tried to help but struggled until a man joined them, and together they pulled both Carol and Ruby to safety. Carol has been trying to thank the man who helped her, saying she’s grateful for the kindness of strangers.
Reflecting on the incident, she admitted it was the most frightened she’s ever been, thinking she might drown. After the fall, she criticized the lack of safety measures around the sinkhole, noting that barriers were only put up after her accident.
She’s now warning others to be careful in the area, especially parents and dog owners. Carol expressed concern about what could happen if someone was alone or if a child approached the sinkhole.
She’s been emotional about the whole experience, saying it was horrible. Initially, there were no safety measures, but after her fall, the council put up plastic barriers, and later, metal ones with 24-hour security.
A spokesperson for Redcar and Cleveland Council assured the public that they are taking steps to secure the area and thanked those who helped Carol. They also reminded everyone to stay away from the sinkhole for their safety.
