Urgent Search for Woman Feared Trapped in Pennsylvania Sinkhole After Cat Rescue Attempt

December 3, 2024
Urgent Search for Woman Feared Trapped in Pennsylvania Sinkhole After Cat Rescue Attempt
  • Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, highlighted the complexity and danger of the operation, noting that the ground beneath the sinkhole is unpredictable.

  • Authorities are actively searching for 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, who went missing in Marguerite, Pennsylvania, while searching for her cat, with concerns that she may have fallen into a newly formed sinkhole.

  • Over 100 first responders, including search and rescue teams, have been deployed to the scene, and a vacuum truck has been brought in to assist with debris removal.

  • Unity Township officials have declared a disaster emergency to expedite access to necessary equipment for the ongoing rescue efforts.

  • Local officials, including Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Steve Limani, emphasize that the rescue efforts are ongoing and intensifying, with a focus on finding Pollard alive.

  • Rescue teams are using water to break down clay and dirt in the sinkhole, which has been closed since the 1950s, while winter weather is expected to complicate recovery efforts.

  • Pollard's family, including her niece Tabitha Pollard, is urging the public to keep them in their prayers as they navigate this challenging situation.

  • As a safety precaution during the search efforts, crews are pumping oxygen into the sinkhole.

  • Local construction teams are assisting in excavation efforts, as the area has a history of mining and related sinkhole occurrences.

  • Despite the challenges, searchers remain committed to continuing their efforts, expressing a sense of loss over the situation.

  • Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha reported that oxygen levels in the sinkhole are adequate, which is a positive sign for Pollard's potential survival.

  • Rescue teams plan to widen the surface hole in the coming days, but the outlook for finding Pollard alive remains grim.

Summary based on 54 sources


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