This footage was filmed and produced 9 January 2023.

Los Angeles firefighters executed a life-saving rescue after two people were found trapped in their car fully submerged in a large, growing sinkhole in the middle of the road. Footage shows one of the rescue crew members, Battalion Chief Andrew Wordin in operation as the two vehicles can be seen deep inside the giant sinkhole.

The two cars were sitting one on top of the other, approximately 15 inches (38 centimetres) below ground level. Firefighters arrived to find two people still trapped in the bottom vehicle, according to a statement from the Los Angeles City Fire Department. The initial rescue attempt involved bringing ground ladders and laying them down to span the hole so crews could try to reach the victims, but this was not successful. Rescuers struggled to stabilise the vehicle as the greatly-compromised road continued to shift and began to roll within the sinkhole.

An immediate rescue was set in place to save the lives of the two people.
A firefighter was lowered into the hole with the help of an aerial ladder so rescuers could secure the victims with a harness and then be raised back up to the surface while the ladder rotated around to safe ground. Crews executed the operation smoothly and safely rescued both people. Fortunately, they only sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital for evaluation.

The road (11414 Inversion road in Chatsworth) will remain closed for an undetermined period while the appropriate city agencies evaluate it and determine the repairs required, the fire department added.