Distraught brother tells of frantic attempt to save Florida sinkhole victim

In a matter of seconds, the earth opened under Jeff Bush’s bedroom and swallowed him up like something from a horror film. About the only thing left was the TV cable running down into the hole.

Mr Bush, 37, is presumed dead, the victim of a sinkhole – a hazard so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger.