A young woman missing for over 36 hours has been found alive and injured at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep ditch just a few minutes from home.
Maria Cristina Simoes Ferreira e Penha, 22, remained stuck between a steep slope and a construction site after she slipped and fell while walking around the neighbourhood in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, in southeast Brazil on the evening of May 26.
She was found when a neighbour heard her cries for help and phoned emergency services on May 28.
But Maria was trapped in a very difficult-to-access place and could only be reached by skilled firefighters after a two-hour rescue operation.
Footage shows the moment firefighters manage to get to the terrified victim and carefully carry her out on a stretcher.
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Corpo de Bombeiros/CEN)Image:
CEN)Another clip shows firefighters slowly lowering a metal ladder as they go down into the ditch the girl was stuck in.
The young woman's family first realised that she had disappeared when she failed to return on the evening of May 26.
She had left her cell phone and money at home, so worried family members began searching for her.
Her father, Carlos Onofre, told local media: "She went out and sat near a club. But she slipped and fell in this ditch."
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@mariacristina.simoesferreira.5/)The ditch is within walking distance of her residence and is approximately 30 feet (9 metres) deep. It is surrounded by a house under construction and shrubland, in addition to several plots of land around it.
To ensure the safety of the victim during the rescue, part of the wall of the house under construction had to be broken, using a grinding machine and sledgehammers.
The fire department said: "A ladder was used and a descent of approximately 10 metres [32 feet] was performed, where contact was made with the victim, who was conscious, but scared.
Image:
Corpo de Bombeiros/CEN)"The fire crews, for safer access to the victim and those involved, decided to open access in the wall.
"After a lot of work and extreme care, the victim was reached and safely removed."
After more than 36 hours of anguish, Maria's father said he was relieved.
Carlos added: "I have a lot of faith, you know! I had asked God to bring my daughter back the way she was and God's will be done. I am very grateful to God that she is alive and well."
The 22-year-old was taken by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) with minor injuries.
Afterwards, she was transferred to a local hospital, where she remains hospitalised.
