"Impossible to Escape Once Fallen"... Mannequin Experiment Results Revealed

[Anchor]

Accidents involving people slipping and falling from tetrapods, the concrete structures installed along coastal breakwaters, continue to occur without letup. Because it is nearly impossible to escape on your own once you fall in, extreme caution is advised.

Reporter Jo Jaegeun has the details.

[Reporter]

Rescue workers descend through a narrow gap between tetrapods.

They hoist up a fisherman who had fallen, using a stretcher from the bottom where seawater flows in.

Fortunately, his life was spared, but he sustained severe head injuries.

Over the past six years, 198 tetrapod accidents nationwide have claimed 34 lives.

The fatality rate stands at 17 percent, meaning one person dies for every six accidents.

An experiment using a mannequin was conducted to assess the impact of a fall.

It plummets to the ground in a split second from a height of four meters.

Had it been a human, there is a high probability of losing consciousness or sustaining severe injuries to the head, neck, and waist.

As you can see, there is nothing to grab with your hands or step on to climb out beneath the tetrapods.

With slippery surfaces and steep slopes, once you fall, it is difficult to escape on your own even if you remain conscious.

No matter how loudly you cry out for help, the sound is easily drowned out by waves, the engines of fishing boats, and the wind, making it hard to carry far.

[Kim Jae-hoon / Inspector, Donghae Maritime Special Rescue Team: When we respond to situations, despite our extensive training and wearing full equipment, if someone were to fall in alone, we believe it would be difficult for them to climb back out by themselves.]

Access has been prohibited at 20 tetrapod locations nationwide carrying a high risk of accidents, yet incidents continue unabated even in areas where access is permitted.

[Lee Jong-wook / Acting Head of the Donghae Regional Coast Guard: Before visiting the sea, please check the weather and maritime conditions, and make sure to wear a life jacket in designated areas.]

In particular, when weather conditions are poor—such as when there are swells or rain—the risk of accidents increases significantly and rescues become even more difficult, making it crucial to stay away from these structures.

(Video by: Kim Dae-chul | Design: Yang Gi-tae | Footage provided by: Donghae Regional Coast Guard)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.