[Exclusive] 70s Overcoming Solitary Death Crisis: "There Was Nothing to Eat" ... Welfare Blind Spot Scene

Volunteer Group in Changwon Reports Finding an Unconscious Elderly Living Alone
Hospital Doctor: "If We Were Just One Day Late, This Person Would Have Died"

On the 29th, paramedics from 119 are providing emergency treatment while Mr. A is unconscious.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kang Sharon] A (77), a resident of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, who was saved by being quickly transferred to a hospital by a local volunteer group just before dying alone, confessed that he had collapsed after starving for more than a week, revealing the reality of the welfare blind spots.

The news that A was saved by a volunteer group in Changwon who responded on-site after receiving a report was introduced on the 4th in the online edition of this paper under the title <'If it had been just one day later, I would have died'... The volunteer group that saved a life>.

After regaining consciousness at the hospital, A reportedly showed tears and told the medical staff, "I had nothing to eat and starved for over a week. Thank you so much for saving me."

A was found in a single-room apartment in Jinhae, Changwon City, in a skeletal condition on the 27th of last month. The Sarang Volunteer Group of Changwon Jinhae Baptist Church, who received a report via landline phone, rushed to the scene, found A unconscious, reported to 119, and transferred him to a nearby hospital.

119 paramedic Bae, who responded to the scene, said, "There was a foul odor in the house and the environment was very poor," and added, "It was an emergency, so we administered IV fluids and moved him to the hospital," conveying the urgency of the situation. Fortunately, A received emergency treatment after being transferred to the hospital and is currently out of danger.

Doctor B, who was in charge of emergency treatment, said, "If it had been just one day later, this person would have died," describing the critical situation of that day.

▲When visiting Mr. A's home after receiving a report, there was a foul odor and poor conditions.

The background of A losing consciousness and collapsing was revealed only on the 4th. He recalled to the medical staff just before losing consciousness, "I ran out of food. I think I starved for more than a week, but I don't know exactly."

A was a target of Changwon City's 'Emergency Care Service,' but according to his words, he was left in a blind spot.

Regarding this, a public official in charge of Ungdong 1-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon City, said, "I thought the local volunteer group was visiting." When asked if the person in charge had visited recently, he was cautious, saying, "I don't remember exactly, but I did visit earlier this year and delivered blankets."

A representative of the Sarang Volunteer Group expressed regret, saying, "Are there still people who starve these days? If only the person in charge had visited and shown interest at least when the monthly welfare benefits were provided, there would have been no cases of starvation."