It was belatedly revealed that a senior in her 70s, who was on the verge of exhaustion while collecting scrap paper in the scorching midday heat under a heatwave warning, was safely rescued thanks to a police drone patrol.

According to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency on August 16, a drone camera on patrol captured the 70-year-old senior pulling a handcart overloaded with scrap paper in the area of Geumchon-dong, Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of June 26.

At the time, the senior appeared exhausted while climbing a hill, sitting limply by the roadside with her head bowed. As she did not move for a considerable amount of time, the drone monitoring team, watching in real time, immediately radioed a nearby patrol car.

The dispatched police officers checked the senior's health condition, looking for signs such as dizziness or breathing difficulties. Fortunately, there were no major abnormalities, but she was in a situation where the stifling heat could have led to complete exhaustion.

After regaining her strength, the senior grabbed her handcart again and climbed the hill with the assistance of the police officers.

Police reportedly deployed drones to the scene to quickly identify emergency situations among vulnerable groups amid the ongoing heatwave and a heavy influx of crowds due to a traditional market day.

A police official said, "Through drone patrols, we were able to spot the senior exhausted from the heatwave early and swiftly coordinate with the field patrol team to ensure her safety."

(Photo: Provided by Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency, Yonhap News)