"Help Me!" Man in His 50s Clings to Boat for 3 Hours After Falling Into Sea and Calls for Rescue Himself

Wando Maritime Police Respond Swiftly in Challenging Nighttime Rescue
Man Rescued Safely Despite Hypothermia Symptoms

An accident occurred off the coast of Haenam County, South Jeolla Province, where a man in his 50s fell into the sea while returning to port after completing work at a fish farm.

According to the Wando Maritime Police Station on the 30th, at around 8:33 p.m. the previous day, a man in his 50s, identified as Mr. A, fell into the sea while transferring from one vessel to another near Eomnam Port in Songji-myeon, Haenam County.

Wando Maritime Rescue is saving a man who fell into the sea. Photo by Wando Maritime Police Station

Mr. A had departed at 5:10 p.m. that day to work at the fish farm and completed his tasks after about three hours. However, during the return journey, he lost his balance and fell into the water while moving from the workboat to another vessel.

Immediately after falling, Mr. A managed to cling to the boat and called emergency services (119) himself. Upon receiving the report, the Wando Maritime Police quickly dispatched a patrol vessel, a coastal rescue boat from the local police station, and the Wando Rescue Team to the scene.

Although the waters where the accident occurred were shallow, the rescue operation was not easy. Fortunately, thanks to the joint efforts of the maritime police and the nearby maritime disaster rescue team, Mr. A was successfully rescued without harm. At the time of the rescue, Mr. A showed symptoms of hypothermia, but it was confirmed that there were no significant health issues.

Kim Taehwan, Chief of the Maritime Police Station, stated, "This case demonstrates that swift life-saving operations can be achieved through close cooperation among related agencies, even under challenging conditions such as shallow waters and nighttime."

He further advised, "When working at sea, always wear a life jacket, and if you are working alone or at night, be sure to inform your family or acquaintances of your work location and expected return time in advance to enable a prompt rescue in case of an accident."