'Elementary Student Alone at Home During Fire' Passes Away After Five Days

Death After Brain Death... Decision to Donate Four Organs
"I Hope My Daughter, Who Dreamed of Becoming a Veterinarian, Will Be Remembered as a Kind Child"

An elementary school student who fell into a coma due to a fire that occurred while she was home alone during vacation ultimately passed away five days after the accident.

On the 3rd, Yonhap News reported, citing the police and the bereaved family, that A (12), an elementary school student who had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Incheon following a recent villa fire, died that morning. A's mother said in a phone call with Yonhap News on the same day, "A few days ago, my daughter was declared brain dead, and she was pronounced dead around 11:05 a.m. today."

Interior view of the villa on fire in Incheon. Provided by Incheon Fire Headquarters

After the medical staff declared A's death five days after the fire, her family agreed to organ donation. A's mother said, "After the brain death diagnosis, I was informed about the organ donation procedure," adding, "My daughter is now in the 5th grade of elementary school, so I don't know if she understood organ donation, but I agreed because it is a good cause." She continued, "The medical staff said that four organs, including the heart and pancreas, could be donated," and tearfully said, "My daughter dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, and I hope she will be remembered as a kind child who did good deeds for people before she left."

A suffered severe injuries in a fire that broke out around 10:43 a.m. on the 26th of last month while she was alone at her home in Simgok-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon. She sustained second-degree burns on her face and inhaled smoke, leading to cardiac arrest and being transported to the hospital. On the day of the fire, A was home alone during vacation when the accident occurred. At the time of the accident, A's mother was at work in a restaurant, and her father was at the hospital for kidney dialysis.

It was reported that A had been included five times as a child at risk under the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'e Child Happiness Support Project' due to overdue electricity and gas bills since September last year. However, at that time, A's parents were both working, so their income exceeded the eligibility criteria, and she was not included in the support program.

Meanwhile, the fire caused property damage estimated by the fire department at approximately 3.9 million KRW, including 10.8 square meters of interior space and household goods that were burned or scorched. Traces of cooking ramen with a portable gas stove were found at the fire scene. The police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire.