FL Firefighter Rescues Terrified Goat From 30-Foot-Deep Sinkhole

HIGH SPRINGS, FL — Firefighters diligently train for a variety of risky rescues they might encounter, but this was definitely a first for firefighter Adam Hudson of the High Springs Fire Department.

On Sunday just after 2:30 p.m., Hudson's fire crew was summoned to free a victim that had fallen into a 30-foot-deep sinkhole.

The victim proved to be as unusual as its predicament.

It was a goat. The furry, four-legged animal alerted its owner to its dilemma with a series of frightened, pitiful bleats. The goat's owner promptly called the fire department.

Luckily, the High Springs firefighters have gotten plenty of practice. The department, based in Alachua County in north-central Florida, has been called out to sinkhole rescues five times in the past year.

Sinkholes are a common occurrence in the Sunshine State. The Floridian peninsula is a porous plateau of limestone topped with sandy soils deposited on beaches over millions of years as global sea levels have risen and fallen.

As groundwater slowly flows through the porous limestone, or karst, it forms pockets that can develop into caves, underground springs and sinkholes.

As with most fire departments in the state, the High Springs firefighters are fully equipped with the latest extended ladders rappel harnesses, winches, pulleys and ascenders to safely rescue victims from sinkholes, collapsed tunnels and cave-ins.

Hudson drew the proverbial short straw and proceeded to climb to the bottom of the sinkhole.

"Once at the bottom, the goat was found on a ledge a few feet away from Hudson," said the fire department in a statement describing the unusual rescue. "Scared and exhausted, our four-legged friend nearly fell into the outstretched arms of his rescuer. The goat and Firefighter Hudson were hoisted back up with little trouble and no injury."

The entire rescue, noted the fire department, took just 90 minutes.