Woman plunges into open manhole after alleged thieves loosen cover hours earlier

This is the shocking moment a woman falls down a manhole on her way to work just hours after two men allegedly tried to steal the cover.

Terrifying footage showed the unsuspecting 31-year-old plummeting down a drain after the heavy metal lid she stepped on suddenly gave way.

In the harrowing CCTV footage, captured in Brazil, the female can be seen getting off a motorcycle on her way to work on Sunday morning.

She is then seen strolling down a pavement as she uses her phone.

Completely unaware of the loose manhole cover ahead of her, she paces ahead on her way to work.

But just moments later, as she steps on the lid, the woman is swallowed into the ground.

The motorcyclist who dropped her off is understood to have raced to help her.

She was rushed to Andaraí Federal Hospital in Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, and suffered moderate injuries, according to local media.

Just hours before the horrific fall, two men were captured by the same CCTV camera tampering with the cover.

Local authorities said they believed the pair were allegedly trying to steal the chunk of metal.

The manhole is located in front of a school on Rua Oto de Alencar

The suspects were seen trying to pry the manhole open at around 2am the day before.

They removed the cover in the footage, but did not steal it.

One of them reportedly tried to close the drain, but failed to seal it properly.

Local media also reported that there had been a robbery at a newsstand earlier that day – with the suspects taking cigarettes among other products.

But there is no confirmation that the pair who broke into the newsagents were the same duo who messed with the drain lid.

Local authorities said that two manhole covers in the area had been identified.

They said: “The Tijuca Subprefecture reports that, after identifying two displaced manhole covers – likely resulting from an attempted theft – it sent a team to the location.

“The equipment has already been replaced, and the maintenance management has been contacted to ensure proper securing and street safety.”