Brit plunges into 10ft sewage-filled sinkhole she thought was a puddle

A woman was left injured after she plunged straight into a 10ft sewage-filled sinkhole that she had mistaken as nothing more than a puddle.

Laura Gerber had been on a night out in Watford, Hertfordshire, when she stepped out of a car and straight into the sinkhole at around 2.30 am on March 12.

She injured her back and swallowed sewage water as she plummeted below the surface – she thought she would drown.

READ MORE: UK's sewage alley with poo exploding from drains and sickening stench in air

Laura said: “I stepped backwards to let someone else out of the car and dropped straight into a sinkhole. I hit my back on the way down and massively injured myself.

“If I have hit my head instead of my back and lost consciousness I would’ve gone under and due to the current below I would’ve gotten completely lost and never been found again”.

Laura added she is thankful she was the one who fell into the sinkhole as an elderly person or a child may not have had the strength to make it out.

Her boyfriend Jason Topping told the Watford Observer: “It’s not nice to say but luckily she hit her back so her arms went out and she stopped herself.

“If she didn’t, I probably wouldn’t have a girlfriend here today. As she put her hands to the side and managed to claw on and, in a miracle, climbed out.”

Evil Dad and daughter 'leave newborn baby to freeze to death by dumping infant in snow'

Laura was taken to Watford General Hospital where she was treated for leptospirosis, also known as Weil’s disease.

The condition is spread through animal urine and can be life-threatening. It typically causes high temperatures, nausea, rashes and chest pain.

On Monday (March 13), Laura’s health took a turn for the worse as she vomited three times and could not stomach food.

Jason said: “I’ve never seen so much vomit come out of a woman.”

Laura was taken back to the hospital and was still there as of Tuesday (March 14).

She added: “‘I’ve always used the saying about life flashing before your eyes but honestly, my life has never flashed before my eyes like this before.”

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

READ NEXT:

For more of the latest news from the world of the Daily Star, check out our homepage
WWE 2K23 review: A new must-have undisputed king of wrestling games has emerged
New pandemic fears as girl, 11, dies as deadly bird flu jumps from mammals to humans
Killjoy councils to ruin coronation bank holiday with odd rules including 'balloon ban'
Woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann sends message to mum over 'suspicious' behaviour

Source: Read Full Article