Prompt emergency treatment praised after seeing a man collapse
Japanese 4-member girl group member and 3rd-year doctor
The identity of a woman who rescued a man who collapsed at a subway station in Japan has been revealed as a practicing doctor and idol, sparking public interest. The woman in the spotlight is Kitamura Maika (27), who debuted as a member of the Japanese idol group 'NEO Aramode' in June and is also a third-year doctor.
On the 27th, Fuji TV's information program 'Mezamashi 8' featured a special segment on Kitamura Maika, who gained attention for a video showing her saving a person who collapsed at a subway station. On the 21st, Kitamura discovered a man who had collapsed inside the station, immediately approached him, checked his pulse while talking to him, and instructed nearby people to call an ambulance, providing quick emergency care. A user on X (formerly Twitter) recorded and uploaded the scene, and the video went viral on social media, garnering over 20 million views and becoming a major topic of discussion.
Kitamura explained the situation, saying, "I was heading home in training clothes after idol practice when I saw a crowd inside Tokyo Station." She added, "When I found the collapsed person, my body moved instinctively. When I checked his consciousness, his pulse was beating, and I kept talking to him. I asked him to squeeze my hand hard if he understood what I was saying." Afterwards, Kitamura handed the patient over to the arriving paramedics and stated that she would not disclose the man's medical condition to protect his privacy.
When asked about how to respond upon seeing someone collapse, she said, "First, you need to call as many people as possible. I wouldn't have been able to do anything alone." She added, "I hope people at least check consciousness and talk to the person."
On her own SNS channel, Kitamura wrote, "It is natural that most people cannot do anything when witnessing such a situation. But just having the courage to call for help can save someone." She continued, "Thanks to many people who helped, we were able to safely hand the man over to the paramedics. I sincerely thank everyone."
Japanese netizens responded with comments such as, "In an era where many people ignore someone who collapses and just pass by, this is a commendable act," "Wonderful," "It's impressive how calmly she assessed the situation after seeing the collapsed person," and "I was amazed by the accurate and swift emergency response."
Meanwhile, Kitamura Maika is a third-year doctor who debuted in June as a member of the four-member girl group 'NEO Aramode,' produced by Takarajen Chiyuki. Regarding her dual roles as an active doctor and idol, she said, "I struggled because I couldn't give up either, but in the end, I decided to do both."
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