An Elderly Woman Collapsed on the Bus After Vaccination, Saved by Rural Village Chief with 'CPR'

Lee Heesul, Head of Sijang Village, Sanseo-myeon, Jangsu-gun / Photo by Jangsu-gun

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Attention is focused on a village chief in a rural area who saved an elderly person in her 80s with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after she collapsed while returning home from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.

According to Jangsu-gun on the 2nd, Lee Heesul (62), the village chief of Sansaemyeon Sijang Village, discovered Mrs. Park (86) unconscious and collapsed on the bus while escorting elderly people who had received the COVID-19 vaccine at the town vaccination center around 10:40 a.m. on the 31st of last month.

Lee, who has experience as a volunteer firefighter, immediately reported the situation to 119 and performed CPR on Mrs. Park for 1 to 2 minutes. It is reported that Kang Jihoon and Ahn Mikyung, employees of the Sansaemyeon Office who accompanied the elderly, also assisted Lee.

After Lee’s CPR, Mrs. Park regained breathing and received emergency treatment until the 119 ambulance arrived. Lee then safely handed Mrs. Park over to the paramedics. Thanks to Lee’s prompt and appropriate emergency response, Mrs. Park was able to overcome the crisis.

Lee only returned home after confirming that Mrs. Park, who was transferred to a hospital in Jeonju, regained consciousness and stabilized.

Regarding this, Lee said, "When I found the grandmother, my only thought was to save her," and added, "The CPR skills I learned as a volunteer firefighter were a great help."

He also added, "I just did what I had to do, and I am really relieved and happy that the elderly woman recovered normally."