Man found in Durham sinkhole was 'uncontrollably shaking'

"No one is around and he is down in the hole and he's screaming," a 911 caller said.

Redwood Volunteer Fire officials said the incident happened Sunday morning on a road near Falls Lake. The man was stuck in mud and cried for help. A nearby fisherman heard the man's calls for help and contacted authorities.

"He was just uncontrollably shaking," said Chief Randy Clements. "He had obviously been very cold for a long period of time; was shaking just uncontrollably. He couldn't really verbalize other than he kept saying he was OK and was not hurt."

Firefighters climbed into the hole and lowered a backboard and basket.

"We laid him in that, placed it on top of the ladder, tied it in, tied the patient in, and then took a rope and slid him up," Clements said.

The sinkhole is located on an isolated stretch of road.

"Whoever basically heard him most likely saved his life," Clements said.

The victim, whose name was not available, was taken to a local hospital. It's unclear how the man fell in.

As of Monday evening, Redwood Road remained closed and the hole was fenced off with bright plastic fencing.