Man Falls Into Sinkhole on Illinois Golf Course

 Posted on March 27, 2013 in Personal Injury

The Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Illinois, has been open for 20 years. And up until this month, it has never had anything—or anyone—suddenly disappear into the ground. The fairway of the 14^th hole abruptly disappeared under Mark Mihal's feet when he was golfing on March 11, 2013. He told the chtribune here that he fell into a mud enclosure "shaped like a bell," about 18 feet below the ground. People who study sinkholes in Illinois also stated that this was the first time a person has fallen into one. Mihal has dislocated his shoulder from the fall, and the rescue could have been dangerous—it wasn't clear whether the sinkhole would continue to grow. Once Mihal's companion had contacted the golf course's manager, they had brought a ladder to climb down into the hole and a rope to tie around Mihal's waist. The rescue only took about 20 minutes, but Mihal claimed it was very nerve-wracking, since it looked to him that there was "more room to go" in the sinkhole. Although sinkholes are common in the St. Louis area since the bedrock is limestone, geologists claim you can usually see the opening of the holes right after a rain. Unfortunately, Mark Mihal was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He received multiple bruises from the accident, but believes his dislocated shoulder is the worst of the injuries. He stated in the interview that he would continue playing golf once he's healed—but probably not at Annbriar. Accidents and injuries can occur in any number of ways. If you've endured an injury from an event, you may be entitled to compensation. Speaking with an experienced DuPage County personal injury attorney today can help you put together a successful case.