"Driver, I'll Take the Wheel": Passenger Saves Life in China by Driving Seriously Ill Driver to Hospital

Driver Suffers Severe Abdominal Pain on Highway
Passenger Takes the Wheel and Saves a Life

In China, an incident where a passenger took the wheel and drove to the hospital after the driver suddenly became unable to drive due to severe abdominal pain is gaining widespread attention.

When the driver suddenly became unable to drive due to severe abdominal pain while driving, the passenger took the wheel and headed to the hospital. Douyin capture.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on July 29 local time, He Sumin, a woman using a ride-hailing service in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, recently faced an unexpected situation while traveling to the Shunde area.

While driving, the driver’s face suddenly turned pale and he clutched the area under his right rib, expressing severe pain. He said, “I’ve never felt pain like this before,” indicated that he could no longer drive safely, and asked for help to exit the highway.

Judging that the driver’s condition was serious, Ms. He immediately took over the wheel, brought the vehicle under control, and abandoned the planned destination in favor of heading to the nearest hospital. At the time, the driver reportedly endured the pain curled up in the passenger seat.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the driver was nearly unconscious. An emergency examination led to a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. The medical team determined that the gallbladder was severely inflamed and performed emergency surgery immediately.

When the driver suddenly became unable to drive due to severe abdominal pain while the vehicle was in motion, the passenger took the wheel and headed to the hospital. Douyin capture

The attending physician explained, “If the arrival at the hospital had been delayed even a little, there was a risk that the gallbladder could have ruptured or that sepsis could have developed,” describing it as a life-threatening emergency situation.

Acute cholecystitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the gallbladder, most often resulting from gallstones blocking the flow of bile. It can cause severe pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, and nausea, and if treatment is delayed, can lead to serious complications such as gallbladder perforation or sepsis, making prompt treatment essential.

Ms. He, who is also active as a blogger, recorded a video of the situation to leave evidence in case of emergencies and released it on her social networking service (SNS) account. The video quickly spread, garnering more than 2.5 million “likes.” Local netizens praised her, commenting, “The passenger’s calm decision saved a life,” “This is not something just anyone can do,” and “A true hero.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.