Off-Duty Firefighter Saves Climber Who Fell at Seoraksan's Daecheongbong Peak

An off-duty firefighter from the Jeonnam-Gwangju region who climbed Mt. Seoraksan on his day off witnessed a hiker falling right before his eyes and saved the person's life by providing emergency first aid and assisting with helicopter transport.

On October 2, Park Hyung-joo, head of the 119 rescue team at the Gwangju Seo-bu Fire Station, had visited a temple on Mt. Seoraksan for a religious pilgrimage before heading up the mountain. While near the summit marker of Daecheongbong Peak, he witnessed a hiker in their 60s, surnamed A, lose their footing and fall about 2 meters down a rocky ledge.

Climber A fell with an impact loud enough to echo a dull thud across the entire summit area and lay face down on the ground, unconscious.

Team leader Park immediately ran about 10 meters to check on A's condition.

It was a critical situation: blood was flowing from A's nose and mouth, multiple parts of the face were lacerated and scraped, and severe bleeding continued from large gaps between the fingers.

As there was no proper first aid equipment at the top of the mountain, Park used arm sleeves provided by nearby hikers to wrap and bind the wounds to stop the bleeding. Alongside a nurse who happened to be at the scene, he monitored A's consciousness and breathing status.

However, after regaining consciousness, A repeatedly vomited and retched while complaining of headaches and drowsiness. Suspecting potential brain damage, Park determined that a swift helicopter transport was necessary.

While maintaining a phone call with the 119 dispatch center, Park immediately began preparing for transport upon receiving word that military helicopter support was available.

Park quickly divided roles, asking the nurse to continuously monitor A's condition while having other hikers help support and move the patient down from the summit about 600 meters to a construction site accommodation near the helicopter landing pad.

After descending to the landing pad, Park relayed the on-site situation to the military personnel in real time and even took charge of guiding the helicopter directly.

Thanks to the swift transport, climber A was transferred to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam for emergency surgery and is currently reported to be out of danger.

Park shared on October 4, "When I saw the accident, my body moved first without any time to think, and as a firefighter, I couldn't leave the scene until the patient was rescued."

He added, "It wasn't just my doing; a nurse and hikers who happened to be at the scene helped out, and the 119 dispatch center and military also responded actively, enabling us to transport the patient quickly."

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