Dozens Rescued As Sinkhole Swallows Resort Near Disney World

A 60-foot-wide sinkhole threatened to swallow a Florida resort about 10 miles from Walt Disney World on Sunday. Shortly before midnight, a building at the Summer Bay Resort in Clermont began to sink inside the growing hole. Within 45 minutes, the building had entirely collapsed.

Reuters reports that no one was injured in the collapse, though 36 people were evacuated from the resort by security guard Richard Shanley. Shanley saw one building begin to collapse into the sinkhole and immediately rushed into action to rescue guests.

"I was hearing popping noises and I was hearing people screaming and glass breaking. The building actually twisted and separated," Shanley told Reuters. "It was like something from a movie."

In many cases, he had to use his master key to get into the rooms and wake their guests. As the three-story building continued to collapse, Shanley kept making his rounds. He says that by the time he reached the third floor, the ceiling had entirely caved in. He continued rescuing guests until the fire department arrived and demanded that he stand down.

Shanley tells Reuters that he felt his life was in danger, but he never let that stop him.

“I didn't think of that at the time,” he said. “I was more concerned about my guests and trying to get them out of here."

Though no one was injured, several guests left valuable items behind in their rooms. At the moment, resort manager Paul Caldwell is unsure if guests will be able to retrieve their belongings from the rubble.

"Those items ... to be very bluntly, realistic -- may never be retrieved," Caldwell told CNN. "They are not going to let us in there to go get stuff for people."