A man was rescued Tuesday after spending the night trapped in a sinkhole near Brady.

Crews working to reopen the haul road off the C Line about five miles from the West Satsop Road encountered a sinkhole in the road, according to Grays Harbor Fire District 2 Chief Leonard Johnson.

“They found a sinkhole in the road and were checking around it and flagging around it, and while in the process of checking the area (a worker) fell into one of the holes,” said Johnson. “He was working by himself when he went into the hole, he figured between noon and 12:15 Monday.”

Johnson and Grays Harbor County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Jason Wecker figured the hole to be 15-20 feet deep.

“It was deep enough he couldn’t climb out on his own,” said Wecker.

There is no cell phone service in the area. Johnson said the man did have a whistle with him but was unable to summon help.

When the man failed to meet a coworker the following morning, the coworker searched the area and found the victim’s vehicle and the piece of equipment he operated. Wecker said the coworker called 911 about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday to report the victim missing. The Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Fire District 2, which took the lead in the operation.

While on the way, Johnson said he contacted the Thurston County Special Operations Rescue Team for assistance. Before they arrived at the scene they were advised the victim had been found and that he was in a sinkhole.

Johnson said the sinkhole led to an underground cavern and creek. The man was apparently not injured, so rescuers dropped a ladder in and he was able to climb out on his own. Johnson said the man was checked for injuries and was released at the scene after declining to be checked out at a hospital.

“He was taken out about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday,” said Johnson.

The man’s identity was not released.