Florida Firefighters Honored for Rescuing Woman Who Fell into a Sinkhole

PLANT CITY, FLA. — Two firefighters who risked their lives to save a woman who fell into a sinkhole have been honored for their bravery.

Capt. Vincent Probst and firefighter and paramedic Jimmy Riley are the first co-winners of Plant City Fire Rescue’s Firefighter of the Year Award. The honor is handed out annually for outstanding service to the agency.

“Their actions in the process of this rescue demonstrate the highest values of placing the needs of others above one’s own safety and clearly are worthy of the praise, admiration and accolades that accompany such an award,” the department said.

Probst and Riley played key roles in the dramatic rescue of Carla Davis-Chapman, who fell into a sinkhole in her backyard on March 28. The call for help went out at about 10:30 a.m. of a “possible entrapment” but firefighters didn’t know what to expect at 3410 Berry Blossom Lane.

“We deal with unusual responses on a daily basis but never to this extreme,” said Jim Wilson, emergency medical services chief for the fire rescue agency.

When firefighters arrived, Plant City Police Officer William Osmanski, the first on the scene, was “holding onto the victim’s arm desperately trying to keep her from going into the hole deeper. He was obviously exhausted and had to be relieved,” Wilson said.

Probst and Riley immediately stepped in, and made sure that no other responders entered into the unstable area of the collapse.

Davis-Chapman, who fell into the hole while picking herbs, had called for help via her cell phone.

The victim, who was 47 at the time, was in obvious distress from the mud and the sand surrounding her, Wilson said.

“There was no room for her to breathe and the weight of the dirt already on her was literally suffocating her,” Wilson said.

Probst and Riley took the place of the exhausted officer and lifted her out of the hole.

“We just did what had to be done,” Probst said of the award. “I am just glad that everything turned out okay and we got her out in time.”

Riley recalled that at the time, he wasn’t sure if the rescuers could save her.

“I didn’t know if we were going to be able to get her out in time. Thankfully she had a positive outcome and none of the responders were seriously injured,” he said.

Osmanski was honored earlier this year by Hillsborough County commissioners and city commissioners for his role in the rescue.