Fla. house over sinkhole torn down

SEFFNER, Fla. — Crews on Sunday razed more than half of the Tampaarea home perched over a 30-footwide sinkhole that swallowed a man three days ago, salvaging some keepsakes for family members who lived there.

Jeremy Bush, 35, tried to save his brother, Jeff, when the earth opened up and swallowed him Thursday night. On Sunday morning, Jeremy Bush and relatives prayed with a pastor as the home — where he lived with his girlfriend, Rachel Wicker; their daughter, Hannah, 2; and oth- ers — was demolished.

Early Sunday morning, just before the demolition, Bush and an unidentified woman knelt and prayed at the mailbox in front of the home, owned by Leland Wicker, Rachel’s grandfather, since the 1970s.

After praying, Bush and the woman walked across the street to watch the demolition.

The operator of the heavy equipment worked gingerly, first taking off a front wall. The family’s belongings were scooped onto the lawn gently.

As of Sunday afternoon — when demolition had stopped for the day and only a few walls remained — a Bible, family photos, a jewelry box and a pink teddy bear for Hannah were among the items saved. Firefighters also found a purse.

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said the remaining walls will be knocked down Monday and then crews would clear the debris as much as possible to allow officials and engineers a better view of the sinkhole.

Several generations of family members lived in the home, including 37-year-old Jeff Bush, the man presumed dead. Jeremy Bush tried to save his brother by jumping into the hole but failed and was rescued by a sheriff’s deputy.