Firefighters on Sunday rescued a couple from a 40-foot sinkhole in High Springs after the pair were riding an ATV through the woods in the dark and plummeted into the hole.
The sinkhole had water, which the victims had to swim in as they awaited rescue.
The man and woman, described as in their mid-20s to early 30s, had only minor injuries.
After the call came just before 2 a.m. Sunday, crews were dispatched from the High Springs Fire Department, High Springs Police Department, Alachua County Fire Rescue and Newberry Fire Rescue.
The rescue took place in a wooded area off of Poe Springs Road, the High Springs Fire Department said in a Facebook post.
One day later, on Monday, firefighters in the same city used a combination of ropes, ladders and bacon to rescue a dog from yet another sinkhole, this one also about 40 feet deep.
The dog, which was uninjured, was carried up after Lt. Brian Ferguson of Alachua County Fire Rescue climbed into the hole, established trust with bacon, muzzled the animal and then scooped it up in his arms.
Ferguson then managed to carry the dog, which appears to be about 60 to 80 pounds, while climbing a ladder.
A video shows the pet scurrying around excitedly once back on stable ground.
Firefighters were called at about 6:35 a.m. after heavy rains caused a “stable depression” on the property to cave in, Alachua County government posted on its Facebook page.
The sinkhole is on a wooded property just off Interstate 75, about 20 miles northwest of Gainesville.
Firefighters from High Springs and Alachua County assisted.
