An Octogenarian Who Went to Pick Gosari Missing, Found by Family After a Day

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80-Year-Old Woman Safely Returns to Family

An elderly woman in her 80s who went to gather bracken in Seogwipo, Jeju, returned safely to her family a day after being reported missing.

The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters announced on the 9th at 12:55 PM that Ms. A, an elderly woman in her 80s who was reported missing the previous day, contacted her family to inform them of her location. Ms. A had gone to gather bracken near Namsongi Oreum in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo City, the previous morning, but lost contact with her family, leading to a missing person report. Police, fire services, military, and local government deployed about 140 personnel to search for Ms. A.

Ms. A contacted her family after finding a store located 2 km east from the oreum. Although she had taken her mobile phone when she went out, it is understood that she was unable to contact anyone because the battery had run out. Ms. A’s health condition was good, but as a precaution, she was transported to a nearby hospital by the 119 emergency medical team that responded and is currently receiving treatment.

An elderly woman in her 80s was safely found on the 9th. [Image provided by Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters]

In Jeju Province, accidents involving people getting lost while gathering bracken continue to occur. Earlier, a man in his 60s, Mr. B, who went out to pick bracken, was found dead in a field in Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, at 10:40 AM on the 5th, four days after being reported missing. On the 2nd, a woman in her 60s, Ms. C, got lost while gathering bracken in Jeju City but was able to return home with the help of the fire department.

Meanwhile, statistics released last month by the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters show that over the past five years (2019?2023), there have been a total of 459 'lost person' incidents in the province, of which 190 cases (41.4%) occurred while gathering bracken, representing the highest proportion. Cases of getting lost while climbing mountains or oreums accounted for 150 cases (32.7%), and those lost while walking on Olle trails or Dullegil trails accounted for 119 cases (25.9%).

In particular, 'lost person' incidents were concentrated in the spring season. By month, 52.9% (243 cases) of all incidents occurred in April (169 cases) and May (74 cases), when bracken sprouts.