In a heart-stopping incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, a group of children had a miraculous escape after a sinkhole dramatically opened up beneath them on a football pitch in Greenwich, South East London.
Horrified onlookers watched as the ground gave way during a junior football match at a local park, swallowing two young boys and leaving a third clinging to the crumbling edge. The terrifying moment, captured on video, shows the youngsters vanishing from sight in an instant.
Emergency services launched a major rescue operation, with multiple fire engines, ambulance crews, and specialist urban search and rescue teams rushing to the scene. Firefighters were seen carefully extracting the children from the gaping hole, which was reported to be approximately two metres deep.
Remarkably, all three children were rescued conscious and breathing. They were swiftly transported to a local hospital for thorough medical assessment. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed they were treated for minor injuries and shock, but are expected to make a full recovery.
The cause of the sinkhole is now under urgent investigation. Initial reports from the London Fire Brigade suggest it may be linked to an old borehole. A spokesperson for the local council has confirmed the immediate closure of the area while structural engineers conduct a full safety assessment of the surrounding grounds.
This alarming event has raised serious questions about the safety of public play areas and the hidden infrastructure beneath them. Parents and local residents are calling for urgent reviews and assurances to prevent a similar nightmare scenario from happening again.
