Digging with a Hoe and Cutting Rebar 10cm at a Time... Dramatic Rescue of a 20s Worker in Gwangmyeong Accident

Special Response Team Battles Risk of Further Collapse
Excavator Operator Survives 13 Hours Underground Without Injury

A man in his 20s who was trapped underground in a tunnel collapse accident during the Shinansan Line double-track subway tunnel construction in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province, miraculously survived after about 13 hours, thanks to the desperate efforts of the Special Response Team rescue workers.

On the 12th, Yonhap News reported, citing fire authorities, the rescue story of excavator operator Mr. A, who was trapped about 30 meters underground due to the collapse accident that occurred around 3:13 p.m. the previous day, and was rescued around 4:27 a.m. the following morning after an overnight rescue operation.

Around 4:27 a.m. on the 12th, a 20-year-old excavator operator who was trapped at the site of the Shinansan Line underground tunnel collapse accident in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do, is being rescued about 13 hours after the accident occurred. Provided by Gwangmyeong City, Yonhap News Agency

At the time of rescue, Mr. A was brought to the surface hanging from a large crane wire rope along with members of the Gyeonggi-do Special Response Team, and it was reported that he had no significant external injuries. He was conscious enough to communicate with the rescuers by phone from the early stages of being trapped. However, the operation to bring Mr. A to the surface was not easy due to concerns about additional collapse of soil and structures.

Fire Sergeant Lee Jun-hee and Fire Lieutenant Jo Byung-joo of the Gyeonggi-do Special Response Team, who went underground after lifting heavy plates weighing over 200 kg one by one with a crane, began digging the soil little by little with shovels and hoes to find Mr. A. The rescuers found the white helmet worn by Mr. A through gaps in the debris and cut the rebar around him in 10 cm sections while clearing the rubble, going deeper underground.

After a six-hour struggle, the rescuers were finally able to face Mr. A. When found, Mr. A was in a crouched position with his lower body buried in soil. Fortunately, waste materials around his face and upper body created a space where he could breathe. Considering Mr. A’s health condition after being pressed for a long time without water intake, the rescuers gave him chocolate milk with a straw to drink.

Rescue workers are searching for missing persons on the 12th at the Shinansan Line underground tunnel construction site in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do, where a collapse accident occurred. Photo by Yonhap News

As the rescue time was somewhat delayed, Mr. A expressed anxiety to the rescuers, saying, "Will I survive? Please rescue me," and the rescuers reassured him by continuing casual conversations such as "How old are you? Where do you live? Do you have a girlfriend?" Afterward, Mr. A was safely rescued to the surface and reportedly repeatedly expressed his gratitude to the rescuers.

Sergeant Lee told Yonhap News, "At the command center set up at the accident site, when Mr. A was rescued, his parents called out his name loudly, and the rescuers who saw this were also moved to tears," adding, "I hope he recovers quickly and we can see him healthy again." He also said, "The whereabouts of Mr. B, a worker in his 50s belonging to POSCO E&C, have not yet been confirmed," and added, "The rescue workers are doing their best, and we hope he is rescued soon and returns to his family."

The accident occurred around 3:13 p.m. on the 11th near Yangji Intersection in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province, at the Shinansan Line Section 5-2 construction site, where POSCO E&C was constructing an underground tunnel, when the tunnel construction site and the road above collapsed. Police and fire authorities are using techniques such as mobile phone location tracking to find Mr. B’s whereabouts, but have not been able to determine his exact location. Based on statements from workers who were working with Mr. B at the time, the rescue authorities believe he is inside a container and searched the interiors of about six containers but did not find Mr. B.