Hiker Falls from Daecheongbong Peak in Seoraksan... Off-Duty Firefighter Saves Life

Misstep Leads to 2-Meter Fall onto Rocks
Emergency Treatment with Nurse, Followed by Helicopter Evacuation

On his day off, a firefighter who visited Seoraksan witnessed a hiker falling from Daecheongbong Peak, provided emergency treatment, and assisted with the helicopter evacuation, ultimately saving the hiker's life.

According to Yonhap News on October 4, Hyungju Park, the leader of the 119 Rescue Team at the Seobu Fire Station in Gwangju, Jeonnam, had visited a temple on Seoraksan for a pilgrimage on October 2. Afterward, he began hiking and witnessed a hiker in his 60s, identified as Mr. A, misstep and fall about 2 meters down a rock near the Daecheongbong Peak marker stone.

Park Hyungjoo, head of the 119 ambulance team at Seobu Fire Station in Gwangju, Jeonnam, is providing first aid to a hiker who fell near Daecheongbong Peak in Seoraksan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

At the moment of the fall, Mr. A hit the ground so hard that a dull thud could be heard across the summit area. He lost consciousness and was lying face down on the ground. Park immediately ran about 10 meters to check Mr. A’s condition. Blood was flowing from Mr. A’s nose and mouth, and there were multiple lacerations and abrasions on his face. There was also significant bleeding from between his fingers, putting him in a critical state.

Since proper emergency equipment was unavailable at the mountain summit, Park received sleeves and other items from nearby hikers to wrap the wounds and stop the bleeding. Along with a nurse who happened to be present, Park monitored Mr. A’s consciousness and breathing. When Mr. A regained consciousness after a short while but repeatedly vomited or retched and complained of headache and drowsiness, Park became concerned about the possibility of brain damage and determined that a prompt helicopter transfer was necessary.

While communicating with the 119 Situation Room, Park was informed that military helicopter support was available and immediately began preparing to transport the patient. He asked the nurse to continue monitoring Mr. A’s condition, and other hikers to help carry him. Together, they transported Mr. A approximately 600 meters from the summit to the construction site accommodation near the helicopter landing area.

Even after reaching the landing area, Park kept relaying the situation on the ground to the military and personally guided the helicopter for landing. Mr. A was transferred to the Armed Forces Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, where he underwent emergency surgery, and as of the time of reporting, his life is not in danger.

Park said, "The moment I saw the accident, my body moved before I could even think. As a firefighter, I couldn’t leave until the rescue was complete." He added, "It was not something I did alone. Thanks to the nurse and hikers who happened to be there and helped, as well as the active cooperation from the 119 Situation Room and the military, we were able to transfer the patient quickly."

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