Authorities said Wednesday that the search for a woman in Pennsylvania who seems to have fallen through a sinkhole down a decades-old mine shaft while looking for her cat has probably changed from a rescue to a recovery effort.
Trooper Steve Limani of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters that the shaft, which he thought was at least 30 feet down, had been showing no signs of life and that oxygen levels had been dropping.
This is probably a recovery, unless it’s a miracle, he said.
Elizabeth Pollard, 64, had gone through what he described as a tiny strip of earth in Unity Township, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, he said, and there was little question about it.
She was last seen on Monday at approximately 5 p.m., according to the authorities. Hours later, a family member called 911 to report her missing, according to Limani.
The 5-year-old granddaughter was still in her car when state troopers found it parked next to a restaurant. He replied that even though it was chilly outside, the grandchild was doing well.
Although authorities have not spoken to Pollard, they used cameras to capture what looked to be a contemporary-looking shoe in the mine on Tuesday.
According to Limani, owing of the mine’s precarious condition, officials are changing their strategy for locating Pollard. R
According to him, rescue workers were using water to soften the area and had been attempting to suction away boulders, dirt, and debris.
However, given the risk of collapse, they now intend to excavate a huge hole to get access to the region.
“We’re not going to quit,” he said. We’re going to keep trying to solve this.
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