Women found day after falling 50 feet into Florida quarry on Christmas, rescuers say

Two women plummeted into a “cavernous” golf course quarry on Christmas and weren’t discovered until the next day, according to rescuers in Florida.

They survived but were hospitalized after a complex rescue staged early Thursday, Dec. 26, in the Lecanto area of Citrus County, first responders said in a news release.

Identities of the women and details of their injuries were not released.

“(Thursday) morning, Citrus County Fire Rescue responded to a challenging rescue after two women fell approximately 50 feet into a quarry on The Quarry Course near Hole 17 at Black Diamond Ranch,” the department said.

“The incident occurred on Christmas Day but went undiscovered until (Thursday) morning. Despite adverse weather preventing air support ... crews ... executed a successful low-angle rescue.”

The women were listed in stable condition at a “local trauma hospital.”

Temperatures fell to around 50 degrees overnight Wednesday into Thursday, AccuWeather reports.

Black Diamond Ranch is a private gated golfing community about an 80-mile drive north from Tampa.

Investigators have not said if the women were golfing on the famously challenging course at the time of their fall.

The Quarry Course features “the 5 best consecutive holes of golf in the world,” and is known for its rugged terrain, including “steep dropoffs,” Black Diamond Ranch says.

“Holes 13 through 17 play across and around the rims of two canyons up to 80 feet deep,” the course says.

This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Women found day after falling 50 feet into Florida quarry on Christmas, rescuers say."