Man Swallowed by Massive Sinkhole in Own Backyard

An Arizona man narrowly escaped disaster after the ground suddenly gave way beneath him in his own backyard, sending him plunging into a six-foot-deep sinkhole as a nearby pickup truck also began sinking into the earth.

The frightening incident unfolded around 3 p.m. Sunday, November 1, at a home near 24th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix, prompting a dramatic rescue operation by the Phoenix Fire Department.

Emergency crews arrived to find the man trapped at the bottom of the hole after suffering a chest injury in the fall. Unable to climb out on his own, he was forced to remain underground while firefighters worked to reach him.

Making the situation even more dangerous, the front passenger-side wheel of a pickup truck had also sunk into the unstable ground, raising concerns that the heavy vehicle could slip farther into the hole during the rescue.

Firefighters first secured the truck to prevent it from shifting or collapsing deeper into the opening. Only after stabilizing the vehicle could rescuers safely begin bringing the injured man to the surface.

Dramatic footage released by the fire department captured the tense operation as a specially trained rescue technician descended into the sinkhole to reach the stranded homeowner.

“A rescue technician was then sent down into the hole [to] extricate the patient out,” the department said.

The rescue was successful, and firefighters carefully brought the man back to solid ground, where emergency medical personnel evaluated his injuries.

He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Officials confirmed that no firefighters were injured during the operation.

The bizarre accident occurred as parts of Arizona were dealing with heavy rainfall and flooding over the weekend. Phoenix Fire Department Capt. DJ Lee told The Arizona Republic that the sinkhole was likely caused by the heavy rain that fell on November 1, although the exact cause has not been confirmed.

The storms had already created dangerous conditions across the region, triggering flooding, road closures and emergency rescues.

Authorities have not publicly identified the homeowner or disclosed his age. As of Monday, November 2, there had been no further update on his medical condition beyond the fire department’s initial report that he was stable.

The incident also left unanswered questions about the extent of the damage beneath the property and whether additional ground movement could occur.

For the homeowner, what should have been an ordinary afternoon in his backyard turned into a frightening ordeal when the earth opened beneath his feet.

Thanks to the quick response of firefighters, both the trapped man and the emergency personnel working to save him escaped without further reported injuries.