The heartbreaking final moments of a man who lost his life after a massive sinkhole suddenly opened up and swallowed his entire bedroom.
The night a sinkhole took a life
A tragic event unfolded in Tampa, Florida, on March 1, 2013. A massive sinkhole swallowed Jeffrey Bush, 37, as he slept in his bedroom.
His grieving brother, Jeremy Bush, has now shared the heartbreaking details of that night.
Speaking to Fox 13, Jeremy Bush vividly remembers the moment the ground collapsed.
He heard a deafening noise and rushed to Jeffrey’s room. When he opened the door, he saw only darkness.
Jeremy recalled: ‘I opened up the door and there was a big hole there. His bed, dresser, everything was gone, he was gone’
‘I jumped in the hole immediately…started digging because I heard him yelling for me… “Jeremy please help me”.’
Despite the danger, Jeremy jumped into the hole, desperately trying to save his brother. He could hear Jeffrey screaming for help. “Jeremy, please help me,” he pleaded.
Jeremy dug frantically, but the earth kept crumbling around him. Emergency responders pulled him out, but Jeffrey was never found. His body remains lost beneath the ground.
The sinkhole reopens years later
After the incident, country officials reopened the Bush home. They placed fences around the lot to prevent further injuries.
In 2015, the sinkhole reopened. Authorities filled it with a mixture of water and gravel.
But in 2023, the ground gave way again, reopening painful wounds for Jeffrey’s family.
Hillsborough County officials explained that sinkholes commonly reappear, especially in central Florida. The region’s porous limestone base makes the ground vulnerable to collapses.
The Science behind Sinkholes
Florida has more sinkholes than any other state.
The ground is made of limestone, which dissolves over time.
When dirt, sand, or clay above becomes too heavy, the ground caves in, creating a sinkhole.
Natural causes such as heavy rainfall can trigger collapses. Human activities, like pumping groundwater for irrigation, also contribute to the problem.
The state Department of Environmental Protection calls central Florida “ground zero” for sinkholes. Between 2006 and 2010, insurance claims related to sinkholes cost Florida insurers $1.4 billion
Most sinkholes damage roads and parking lots. Some, however, swallow entire buildings.
In 1981, a sinkhole near Orlando grew to 400 feet across. It consumed five cars, two businesses, a three-bedroom house, and part of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
A Recent Sinkhole in England
Sinkholes are not just an American problem.
In February 2024, residents in Surrey, England, were evacuated when a massive sinkhole appeared on a high street. The hole is estimated to be at least 62 feet deep.
Authorities have cordoned off the area as they assess the damage and risks.
A decade after Jeffrey Bush’s tragic death, his family continues to mourn. Each time the sinkhole reopens, it serves as a painful reminder of the night he was lost forever.