Fast were the reactions.

Virtual particle/antiparticle pairs appeared, interacted with space-time, disappeared. Some annihilated one another, but others were torn apart as the black hole swallowed one, letting the other one loose unto the Universe.

The matter funneling in past the event horizon was going to be sucked in, spaghettified by the insane gravitational stress, pulled apart, crashed, smashed, and crushed. But its image would not.

An asteroid moving with almost unbelievable rapidity blasted on towards the event horizon and utter oblivion. As it came closer and closer to the black hole, it seemed to slow down, even though it really was gone. Its image kept on reducing its speed until it seemed like it would land on the surface of the horizon as gently as a feather; at the same time, its appearance shifted into redder parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Gradually, very gradually, it faded into invisibility. For as long as any observer could have noticed, it was still changing speed…

…slowly.