Thursday, November 27, 2014, 4:12 PM -   An Australian woman had to be rescued by firefighters after she was swallowed by a sinkhole while hanging up laundry in her backyard Tuesday.

Christina Beaumont, 52, had to tread water for twenty minutes when the three-metre hole opened up under her feet, submerged her in water.

A neighbour heard her cries for help and contacted firefighters who rescued her with ropes.

Australian woman swallowed by sinkhole while hanging up laundry