Gran, 61, barely escapes with life after saving dog from freezing sinkhole

A disabled grandmother was left terrified and screaming for help when she as she tried to save her dog.

Carol Carne was walking her three cockapoos in Eston Recreation Ground, Eston, North Yorkshire, when fell into what onlookers have described as a sinkhole.

As Carol tried to use one of her crutches to hook under Ruby’s coat, the ground gave way beneath her and she was plunged into the freezing water, which is estimated to be about 12ft deep.

The 61-year-old : “The water just pulled me under and every time I tried to grab hold at the top the ground was just coming away. I knew I had seen two women in the park and I was screaming for help.

“My boots and coat were so soaked and heavy, I just kept getting pulled back under the water and I never touched the bottom.”

Luckily the two women heard her cries for help, but they were unable to drag her out by themselves.

Fortunately a man was in the park and saw the drama. He rushed to the scene and between them they managed to pull Carol and Ruby to safety.

Carol said: “If it had not been for those people, I wouldn’t be here today, I would have drowned. The water was so cold and I just couldn’t pull myself out.”

The ordeal took place on Friday and Carol said she couldn’t see the hole until she was nearly upon it.

She called the dogs back, but Ruby unfortunately fell in. Carol said: “At first I thought it was just a deep puddle.”

Carol says she has heard another dog has since fallen into the water and thankfully been pulled to safety.

She said: “I am scared a child, or somebody else, is going to fall in and they might not be as lucky as me.

“If it hadn’t been for those people I wouldn’t be here today.”

The grandmother of six said she has heard the hole is an old mine shaft, but says it is close to the footpath and getting bigger every day.

She added: “I don’t think it will be long before the path falls away.”

Thankfully she and Ruby has suffered no physical injuries during their ordeal, but Carol said they are both very shaken up. She said: “I have cried buckets over it when I think about what might have happened and Ruby is very quiet a clingy.”

A spokesman for  and Cleveland Council said staff had been at the site again today to secure it with fencing.

He said: “24-hour security will be on site to ensure the safety of the public. The site was secured earlier this week, again with Heras Fencing, but this was taken down by persons unknown.

“We hope the woman affected makes a full recovery and we would like to thank the members of the public who came to her aid. We would like to again ask residents to please avoid the area around the hole for their own safety.”