Army Sergeant Identified as 'Tube Hero' Who Rescued Middle Schooler Swept Away by Waves

A story about a family searching for an anonymous citizen who rescued a middle school student swept away by waves has gained attention through online communities.

According to online community posts on July 21, a person identified as A posted a message titled "Looking for the hero of Geojin Beach" on an online forum on July 19.

A described the situation, stating, "Around noon on July 19, my son was swept away by currents and drifted far from the shore at Geojin Beach (Geojin 11-ri) in Goseong, Gangwon Province. While I was frantic after calling 119, a citizen jumped into the sea with only a tube, rescued my child, and then disappeared like the wind."

"I expressed my gratitude at the scene, but as time passes, I am deeply realizing how significant their brave action was," A said. "The moment my child came back out of the water, all the big and small worries of life felt meaningless."

A added, "I ask for the help of netizens so that I can find my benefactor through this post. I also want to thank the 119 rescue team and the Coast Guard officers who arrived at the scene, and I will be more careful about safety when playing in the water in the future."

In a follow-up post, A explained that the group of citizens who helped with the rescue consisted of five people—three men and two women—and that in addition to the person who jumped into the water, the others actively assessed the situation and assisted with the rescue from the beach.

Although the same story was posted on other online communities, it is reported that they have not yet been able to make contact with the citizen who performed the rescue.

The story has spread rapidly online, drawing supportive comments such as "A true hero," "I hope they find their benefactor," and "Thank you for your courageous action."

Meanwhile, according to the Sokcho Coast Guard, which has jurisdiction over the area, the individual who jumped into the sea with a tube and made a decisive contribution to the rescue has been identified as Sergeant Ko, who serves in an Army division.

In recognition of his quick judgment and courageous action that saved a precious life, the Sokcho Coast Guard plans to present a commendation to Sergeant Ko on July 24.

Furthermore, the Coast Guard urged the public to enjoy water activities at designated beaches where safety personnel are stationed, noting that the beach where the accident occurred is an undesignated beach without lifeguards.

(File Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.