Diagnosed and Treated for Variant Angina Thanks to Paramedic
Letter Delivered and 300,000 Won Prepaid at Nearby Cafe
A man in his 30s, who faced a medical emergency due to heart disease, has drawn attention after leaving a letter and a prepaid coffee gift for the paramedic who saved his life. On June 16, a post titled "It is reassuring and heartwarming to have such a firefighter" appeared on an online community, accompanied by a photo of a letter written to a firefighter. According to the letter included in the post, Mr. A, a man in his 30s living in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, experienced severe discomfort and chest pain that felt like someone was squeezing his heart after returning home from church on April 6. As his symptoms worsened, Mr. A called 119, and paramedics arrived within five minutes.
On the 6th, a photo of a letter written to a firefighter was posted on an online community with the title "It is reassuring and heartwarming to have such a firefighter." Online community
Paramedic B, a female emergency responder, calmly asked Mr. A about his medical history, current medications, and the onset of pain before conducting an electrocardiogram (ECG). While reviewing the ECG data, B noticed something unusual and urgently called a nearby university hospital. However, the hospital said they could not accept the patient, so B attempted to connect with Chonbuk National University Hospital. The cardiologist on duty at Chonbuk National University Hospital said he would be leaving soon. B earnestly asked the doctor to wait, promising, "I will get there as quickly as possible," and repeated her request two or three times.
Even during transport to the hospital, B reassured the anxious Mr. A, saying, "We will arrive soon, so please don't worry too much." Upon arrival at Chonbuk National University Hospital, Mr. A was diagnosed with variant angina. He was immediately administered a vasodilator, which helped him avoid a life-threatening situation. Thanks to B's careful observation and accurate assessment of the ECG data at the scene, prompt treatment was possible, ultimately saving Mr. A's life.
A week later, B did not forget about Mr. A and called him first to check on his health and wish him a speedy recovery. Since then, Mr. A has continued treatment for angina and has made significant progress in his recovery. He also learned that the medication he had taken for a month prior could have affected his cardiovascular system. Mr. A said, "I was surprised to discover a condition I might never have known about, and I am even more grateful for the actions taken that day," adding, "It was only after experiencing such a dangerous situation myself that I truly realized how noble it is to save a life." About two months later, on the 16th, Mr. A visited the paramedics with a letter in hand.
Mr. A expressed his gratitude to B, saying, "Your warm words and the way you treated me so kindly, almost like family, were a great comfort to me that day. I am writing this letter to express my heartfelt thanks," and added, "Thanks to your kindness, I realized that the world is still a warm and worthwhile place to live."
He continued, "I was worried you might feel burdened or be busy because of the rain, so I quietly left after asking the person at the entrance to deliver this to your team leader. As a small gesture, I prepaid at a nearby cafe so that firefighters can take a break there. I sincerely hope you do not feel burdened by this." The published receipt showed a payment of 300,000 won. Online commenters responded with remarks such as, "The firefighter's quick judgment is impressive," "It is a job that cannot be done without a sense of duty and sincerity for life," and "Both of them are truly admirable people."
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