Family in pool when sinkhole opens up

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Craven family had the fun literally sucked out of summer last week when a sinkhole opened up under their Cheektowaga home's pool, draining out all the water while children were swimming.

"They were yelling, "Get out of the pool! Get out of the pool!" Because we didn't know if it was going to fall down, if the whole pool was gonna sink underneath us," described Carrie Craven.

Every drop of water gushed out, flooding the yard, and then disappearing into the hole.

"I was concerned because my son is only 3 years old. If he was in the pool and he didn't get out, he could have went down there. He would have fit in that hole," said Carrie.

Everyone is safe, but really missing the pool. Cheektowaga has sent out a town engineer, a sewer inspector, and a pool code enforcer. Utilities inspectors have been there, too. Nobody knows what's down that hole, but they suspect an abandoned well or a septic tank.

The next step?

"I guess I've got to start digging. I already started digging inside the pool. And I spoke with the town and he says, 'You don't want to start digging deeper than four feet with a shovel,' and I said, 'I'm already past six feet and I haven't hit anything yet,'" said Bryan Craven.

Bryan says he can't afford a backhoe, so for now he's doing it all by hand.

"I want to fill the hole in with stone or something. I just want to make sure it's safe. If it gives way again, I don't want anybody in the pool to possibly drown if they go down that hole. That's the main concern is safety," said Bryan.