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Story courtesy of My Fox Tampa Bay
BRANDON (FOX 13) - A Seffner man was in the bedroom of his home Thursday night when the unthinkable happened: A sinkhole opened up and swallowed his bed. Fire and rescue officials said the hole was about 30 feet in width and 20 feet deep, and there "are no signs of life" from 36-year-old Jeff Bush, who was in the room. At this point, officials say it is recovery mission, not a rescue effort, but they would not say if he was dead or alive.
Crews haven't been able to get close because the sinkhole continues to grow, and it's too dangerous. "Right now, the potential for a collapse is very, very high," said Jessica Damico of Hillsborough Fire and Rescue.
The view from SkyFOX didn't show any holes visible around the four-bedroom home, which has been condemned. It appears it is isolated to the bedroom. There were five adults and one child inside.
When the sinkhole opened, Bush's brother, Jeremy, said he tried pulling him from the hole. He spoke to the media Friday morning.
"We heard a loud crash. I ran in there and heard somebody screaming, my brother screaming, and I ran all in there," he said, choking back tears. "And all I see is this big hole. All I see is the top of his bed. I didn't see anything else, so I jumped in the hole and tried getting him out. And I couldn't get him. I could hear him screaming for me, hollering for me."