Seongnam Fire Station Rescues Missing Elderly Man with Citizen Tip and Drone Search

Seongnam Fire Station Locates Missing Man Within Two Hours Using Drones and On-Foot Search
"Sincere Thanks for Bringing My Father Back" ? Heartfelt Message of Gratitude

The Seongnam Fire Station in Gyeonggi Province announced on October 16 that it had immediately launched a search and successfully rescued a man in his 80s who had been reported missing after going out to collect acorns the previous morning and failing to return home. The report was received at 12:16 p.m. on October 9.

The scene of receiving emergency treatment from paramedics after being rescued, provided by Seongnam Fire Station

Upon receiving the report, the Seongnam Fire Station 119 Rescue Team and staff from the Dandae 119 Safety Center were dispatched to the area around Yangji Park in Yangji-dong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam City. They began searching for the missing person by estimating his route of movement. Based on the statements of the person who reported the incident and field inquiries, the response team conducted a joint search using both drones and on-foot patrols, covering the mountain trails of Yangji Park and the nearby hills.

The search included firefighters, police officers, and citizens who voluntarily participated out of concern for the missing person. They divided the area into sections and conducted a thorough search, even entering deep forested areas near the mountain slopes and cliffs that were difficult to access, doing their utmost to find any trace of the missing man.

The search continued for two hours. Ultimately, after receiving a tip from a citizen that the missing person was caught on a barbed-wire fence near an apiary, the team went to the scene and was able to rescue him.

At the time of discovery, the man was found exhausted with his shirt caught on the barbed wire. He had only minor abrasions on his face and was not in any life-threatening condition. His vital signs were stable, and after receiving emergency treatment from paramedics, he was allowed to return home at his family's request.

Meanwhile, on October 12, following the rescue, a message of gratitude from the missing man's child was posted on the "Let's Compliment" bulletin board of the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters website. In the message, the child wrote, "Seeing the firefighters doing their best as they thoroughly searched the mountain, I felt reassured to have firefighters in Korea," and added, "I am sincerely grateful for allowing me to hold my father's hand again."

Lee Jecheol, Chief of Seongnam Fire Station, stated, "Protecting the lives and safety of citizens is the most important mission of the fire service," and continued, "This rescue was made possible thanks to the active reports and cooperation of citizens. We will continue to respond to the trust of citizens with prompt and systematic search and rescue operations."