Toronto

Man rescued after sinkhole swallows him in Toronto's Willowdale neighbourhood

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'Apparently he was just walking by, fell into a hole [and] couldn't get out'

Fire crews have rescued a man who fell into a sinkhole while walking in the Willowdale neighbourhood in North York. (CBC)

Fire crews have rescued a man who fell into a sinkhole while walking in the Willowdale neighbourhood in North York.

Police were called to the area of Tamworth Road and Ellerslie Avenue at about 4 p.m. Thursday for reports that someone had fallen into a sinkhole.

Toronto Fire Service's district chief, Stephan Powell, told CBC Toronto seven trucks were dispatched to the scene where a rescue squad managed to lift the man from the hole using a harness.

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"Apparently he was just walking by, fell into a hole [and] couldn't get out," Powell said, adding that one of the man's legs was injured in the process.

Powell said crews placed a ladder across the hole and set up a tripod over it on some sheets of plywood. From there, they attached the tripod to a harness, pulling the man up. (CBC)

Powell said crews placed a ladder across the hole and set up a tripod over it on some sheets of plywood. From there, they attached the tripod to a harness, pulling the man up.

The cause of the sinkhole isn't yet clear, but Powell said the Ministry of Public Works will be investigating.

The cause of the sinkhole isn't yet clear, but Powell said the Ministry of Public Works will be investigating. (CBC)

The man has since been transported to hospital. His injuries are minor.