"Please Come Quickly"—Firefighter Rescues Caller After Abrupt Hang-Up Using Ingenuity

"If you notice something unusual while alone, keep your front door open"

"Even simple information, like nearby buildings, can help"

A firefighter managed to rescue an elderly patient by detecting clues from a faltering voice after a 119 emergency call was abruptly cut off, with only the words, "Please come quickly," left behind.

According to Yonhap News Agency on August 10, at around 2:30 a.m. on July 31, a 119 emergency call was received from the Hwangsan-ri area, Ganggyeong-eup, Nonsan-si, Chungnam Province. The caller did not provide a specific address, only uttering "Please come quickly" before the line was disconnected.

AI-generated image

The 119 General Situation Room immediately tried to call back, but the caller did not answer. As a result, emergency responders launched a cell tower-based location search, but this method alone made it difficult to determine the precise residential address. A check for any previous reports from the same caller through the police integrated situation room also yielded no records.

In a tense moment where there was a risk of missing the critical golden hour, Sergeant Sehwa Lee from the situation room replayed the audio recording of the call. Carefully reviewing the hesitant and muffled voice, Sergeant Lee picked up on a faint statement: "My blood pressure is dropping."

Recalling the possibility of an underlying illness in an elderly patient, Sergeant Lee immediately contacted a nearby designated hospital and, using the caller's phone number, checked for any prior medical history. Upon confirming the existence of medical records, Sergeant Lee was able to obtain the caller's street address with the hospital's cooperation.

Fire Officer Sehwa Lee. Courtesy of Chungnam Fire Headquarters

It took about 30 minutes from when the 119 call was received to when the paramedics arrived on the scene and discovered the collapsed patient. It is reported that the patient was conscious at the time but complained of severe dizziness to the extent that they could not move on their own.

The patient received emergency treatment at the scene and was then transported to the hospital. Sergeant Lee said, "If you are alone and notice something unusual about your body, it is best to leave your front door open while you are still conscious," adding, "Even if you have difficulty stating your street address, any simple information such as the name of your apartment or a nearby building can be of great help."

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