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99-year-old rescued after sinkhole forms under Dunedin house

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TBO.com

Published: July 2, 2009

DUDEDIN - A sinkhole formed under a house in Dunedin Wednesday evening – a development that forced firefighters to physically rescue a 99-year-old woman from the abode, fire officials say.

The Dunedin Fire Department received a call about the home at 1525 Fife Court at 6:47 p.m., said Bill McElligott, division chief at the department. The daughter of the 99-year-old woman heard loud noises emanating from her house; a neighbor came over, saw what was happening and called 911, he said.

There were several areas where the foundation was cracking and the ceiling was separating, McElligott said. The house was getting pulled in two different directions, with screws popping and truss plates separating as the house shifted, he said.

The collapsing prevented firefighters from using the front door to physically remove the 99-year-old woman, he said, so they had to use a side door. She is staying with a neighbor, he said. Authorities are trying to find a permanent home for her now, he said.

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