A university student in his 20s who drifted while riding a rubber boat in a stream in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, was rescued by the Coast Guard after sending a distress call via a VHF radio when his cell phone ran out of battery.

According to the Namhae Regional Coast Guard Agency, the student, surnamed A, was fishing from an inflatable rubber boat on the Yangsan Stream on the night of August 29 when he dropped his oars into the water and began to drift.

Unable to escape because he could not swim and unable to call 119 as his cell phone battery was depleted, student A sent an emergency distress signal using a VHF radio.

The signal transmitted by student A was picked up by the Busan Port Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) of the Namhae Regional Coast Guard Agency. The traffic controller communicated with student A to determine his location and shared the information with the Busan Maritime Police Station and fire authorities.

Student A was rescued by authorities dispatched to the scene.

The Coast Guard explained that it is extremely rare for ordinary citizens to carry VHF radios, but some hobbyists use them for recreational purposes.

The Busan Port Vessel Traffic Service performs the mission of supporting safe navigation and entry and departure through wireless communication with vessels at sea.

The Namhae Regional Coast Guard Agency stated, "The Busan Port VTS actively responded to the rescue by capturing a weak emergency distress signal originating from land," adding, "We plan to share this as a best practice nationwide."

(Photo provided by Namhae Regional Coast Guard Agency, Yonhap News)