Seffner Sinkhole Victim Jeffrey Bush Officially 'Presumed Deceased'

An early evening report Sunday, March 3, confirmed what family members had already understood, that Jeffrey Bush, 36, has been "presumed deceased."

"Detectives have consulted with the Hillsborough County Medical
Examiners Office and have concluded that based on all data of the incident
collected thus far, including depth of the sinkhole as well as composition of
the soil and water, there [are] no environmental conditions inside the sinkhole
that could sustain human life," according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office report, sent 8:26 p.m. by sheriff's spokesperson Larry McKinnon.

The report concludes: "Along with the opinion of [the] medical examiner's office, Jeffry Bush is presumed deceased."

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office has indicated as well that Bush's family would have to petition the Hillsborough County court system to have Bush "legally declared deceased" and to "have an official death certificate issued," McKinnon added.

The report also notes the following chronological order of events as the Seffner sinkhole tragedy unfolded, from Feb. 28 through March 3:

• The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 28, at 11 p.m., received a 911 call from 240 Faithway Drive in Brandon, noting that "a bedroom inside a residential home had collapsed and an occupant was trapped under the house."

• "Deputy Douglas Duvall, a five-year veteran with the Hillsborough County
  Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene. Once he arrived, he immediately went inside the residence and was met by family members who directed him to a back bedroom."

• Duvall found "a gaping sinkhole in the floor that covered the entire bedroom" and saw Jeffrey Bush's brother, Jeremy, "inside the sinkhole, which was approximately 16 to 20 feet deep and rapidly collapsing." Bush had reportedly  jumped into the sinkhole moments before Duvall arrived in a futile attempt to save his brother, "who was in bed sleeping at the time the sinkhole opened up, swallowing up Jeffery and everything inside the bedroom."

• "As the sinkhole continued to rapidly collapse, Deputy Duvall risked his own life by remaining at the rim of the sinkhole as he reached down and grabbed" Bush by the hand, pulling him to safety. This "heroic action by
  Deputy Douglas Duvall without question" saved Bush's life.

• The deputy and the brother fled the house.

• Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responders arrived and sealed off the home "due to the extreme danger of the sinkhole expanding and potentially fatality endangering any further responding personnel."

• "During the next 36 plus hours, personnel with HCFR along with experts in the field of sinkholes and use of underground mapping ground penetrating radar equipment made a gallant and exhaustive effort attempting to rescue Jeffery Bush or recover his remains."

• "On March 2, 2013 at 4:30 pm, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Ron Rogers halted all recovery efforts based on the totality of circumstances he has previously publicly released."

• Hillsborough County Sheriff's detectives launched a death investigation
  and conducted interviews with fire personnel and others involved in this
  incident. In consultation with the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office, Jeffrey Bush is presumed deceased.

• The investigation continues.

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SUBSEQUENT AND ONGOING BRANDON PATCH SEFFNER SINKHOLE COVERAGE (Through March 4):

• Seffner Sinkhole Homeowner: 'God Has a Plan'

• Readers React to Seffner Sinkhole Tragedy

• Family Treasures Salvaged from Seffner Sinkhole Demolition
  

• Demolition Under Way at Seffner Sinkhole Site

• More Photos From the Seffner Sinkhole Site

• Seffner Sinkhole Operation Readies for Impending Demolition

• 3rd Home 'Compromised' at Seffner Sinkhole Site; Relief Fund Established

• Video: Deputy Douglas Duvall Recounts Seffner Sinkhole Heroics

• Situation 'Extremely Unsafe' at Seffner Sinkhole Site

• Family Member Recalls Horror of Seffner Sinkhole Tragedy

• Photos From the Scene of Sinkhole in Seffner

• Video: Hillsborough Fire Chief Discusses Seffner Sinkhole

• Hillsborough County Among Top 10 Sinkhole-Prone Florida Counties

• Update: Sinkhole Swallows Seffner Man Sleeping in Bed

• Video of Deputy Who Worked To Save Men From Sinkhole 
  

• Video: Man Could Hear His Brother Screaming

• Video: Fire Chief Answers Questions             

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