Reported after acquaintance was unreachable for several days
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] A man in his 70s living alone was found collapsed in a locked bathroom and was dramatically rescued after 15 days. It was investigated that the man survived by drinking tap water for half a month.
On the 7th, the Iksan Police Station in Jeonbuk received a report around 9:40 a.m. that Mr. A (77), who lives in an apartment in Dongsan-dong, Iksan City, could not be contacted. It is known that a friend of Mr. A came to the management office after failing to reach him for several days.
Police officers and firefighters who responded to the report knocked on the front door of Mr. A’s residence for a long time but did not sense any sign of life.
Sensing the urgency, they opened the front door and entered the house, but the master bedroom bathroom was locked. Police officers and firefighters broke open the bathroom door and found Mr. A lying on the floor without any clothes.
Mr. A showed no movement but was slightly opening his eyes; there were no external injuries, and his pulse and breathing were reported to be normal.
According to the police investigation, it was confirmed that he entered the bathroom to take a bath 15 days ago and could not get out. He struggled to reach the washbasin and survived by drinking water.
The master bedroom bathroom door had no doorknob, possibly replaced in the past due to damage, and Mr. A, who was weak, could not open the door from inside and was trapped in the bathroom.
It was confirmed that Mr. A had been living alone in this apartment for a long time.
A police official said, "It appears he was trapped inside because the bathroom door was locked," adding, "Fortunately, he was transferred to the hospital without delay."
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