There's a 7-mile (11-kilometer) trail in North Carolina named "Sinkhole Trail" for a large sinkhole situated along a ridge there. A group of mountain bikers on that trail recently noticed a dog trapped 30 feet (9 meters) down in that sinkhole. The bikers cleverly used some beef jerky and some straps to lift the trapped dog to safety.
• More information about the incident, and the dog — who's up for adoption — at Burke County NC Search And Rescue's Facebook page.
"The dog was not injured, but was starving and dehydrated, according to the rescuers," reports AP:
The group was riding the Sinkhole Trail at Pisgah National Forest, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Asheville, on Sunday when they encountered the dog, who had apparently been stuck in the hole for several days, according to Burke County Search And Rescue.
The bikers called for help and led rescuers more than a mile to the stranded animal, where they rappelled into the sinkhole, enticed the starving dog with some beef jerky and raised him to safety using a harness, the rescue squad said.
(…) He was taken to Burke County Animal Services for an examination and named "Sinker." Officials said he did not have a collar or a microchip, and if owners are not found, he could be placed up for adoption.
More at the Associated Press.
