A New York woman had a terrifying 47th birthday when theground suddenly gave way beneath her, dropping her 8 feet into a water-filled sinkhole in her backyard in Bohemia, Long Island.

Danielle Tammone struggled to climb out as the ground around her crumbled. Two neighbours heard her cries, found her in the hole and called 911. Emergency responders lowered a ladder to help her out and then sang `Happy Birthday` to her.

Tammone suffered minor injuries, including whiplash and pulled muscles.

`Thank God I didn`t land on stone.

It was just sod and water, but still scary,` she said.•