A 58-year-old firefighter suffered sudden heart problems while running, but was saved by his son, who calmly applied the emergency procedures that he had learned from his father.
According to the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters, Gimje Fire Station chief Lee Jong-ok fell into cardiac arrest while running with his son Lee Gang-hyeon at a park in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, at around 9 p.m. on Oct. 11.
The younger Lee immediately called the 119 emergency service and proceeded to perform CPR on his father, under instructions from the official who responded to the call.
The father's pulse came back by the time emergency workers arrived at the scene, five minutes after the report, but the elder Lee's heart stopped again. The rescue workers were able to resuscitate him with CPR and a defibrillator.
Chief Lee was taken to the Wonkwang University Hospital, where he received intensive medical care and percutaneous coronary intervention. He made a recovery and returned to his post on Nov. 2.
"I've saved many lives working my entire life as a firefighter, but I never thought I would be saved by my son," Lee said. "I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my son for responding so calmly, and to the rescue workers for doing their best."
The provincial rescue authorities said the latest incident highlights the importance of promptly applied CPR and emergency medical treatment in case of cardiac arrest. They vowed to reinforce public education on CPR throughout the province.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
