Missing After Giving Life Jacket to Stranded Man in Tidal Flat... Coast Guard Officer in His 30s Dies

A Coast Guard officer in his 30s, who went missing while rescuing a man in his 70s stranded in a tidal flat, was found in cardiac arrest and transported to a hospital, but ultimately passed away.

According to the Incheon Coast Guard Station on September 11, the Special Operations Unit of the Central Regional Coast Guard found Sergeant Jae Seok Lee, aged 34, from the Yeongheung Police Substation, at around 9:41 a.m. in waters approximately 1.4 kilometers off Kkotseom in Yeongheung-myeon, Ongjin-gun, Incheon.

At the time of discovery, Sergeant Lee was in cardiac arrest. He was transported to a nearby hospital by emergency responders but was pronounced dead.

Sergeant Jae Seok Lee, who took off a life jacket. Incheon Coast Guard Station

At around 3:30 a.m. that day, Sergeant Lee went missing while rescuing Mr. A, a Chinese national in his 70s, who had become stranded by the rising tide while collecting shellfish near Kkotseom in Yeongheung-myeon. The Coast Guard mobilized 21 patrol vessels, two aircraft, and worked with related agencies to search for him.

It was determined that Sergeant Lee had given his own life jacket to Mr. A, who had injured his foot, and attempted to swim to safety together, but then went missing in the process.

Mr. A was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter at around 4:20 a.m. He was transported to a hospital for hypothermia but is reported to be in stable condition.

The Coast Guard believes Sergeant Lee was swept away by the suddenly rising tide and plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the entire rescue process to clarify the circumstances of his line-of-duty death.

Late Sergeant Lee Jaeseok. Incheon Coast Guard Station

Sergeant Lee was appointed in July 2021, served on a 300-ton patrol vessel at the Incheon Coast Guard Station, and later worked at the Yeongheung Police Substation. As a trainee at the Korea Coast Guard Academy, he received a commendation from the academy superintendent, and after his appointment, he was awarded commendations from the Central Regional Coast Guard Chief and the Incheon Coast Guard Chief for his contributions to safety management and other duties.

A Coast Guard official stated, "We will conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that the noble sacrifice of the deceased, who gave his life to save another, is not in vain."