"Feeling Unwell" Driver Stops in First Lane... Police Officer Runs 200 Meters Across Olympic-daero to Rescue

A police officer who ran across Olympic-daero in Seoul to rescue an emergency driver who had stopped in the first lane is drawing attention.

At 4:21 p.m. on the 30th of last month, Lieutenant Seungjae Lee of the Traffic Safety Division at Gangseo Police Station was seen running toward a reported vehicle on Olympic-daero in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency·Yonhap News

On the 17th, Yonhap News reported this story, citing the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. According to the report, at around 4:21 p.m. on the 30th of last month, a call was received from the southern end of Gayang Bridge on Olympic-daero in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, stating, "I feel unwell while driving. Please help." The caller, a man in his 60s identified as Mr. A, reportedly felt a sudden physical abnormality while driving, stopped in the first lane, and called 112 for assistance.

Upon receiving the report, Inspector Lee Seungjae of the Traffic Safety Division immediately recognized the emergency and, in order to reach the scene quickly, parked his patrol car nearby and ran to the location. He made this decision because his patrol car was ahead of the reported location, and turning around would have caused a delay.

Inspector Lee risked his safety by running about 200 meters on Olympic-daero, waving his arms, before spotting the caller's vehicle stopped in the first lane. When Mr. A reported dizziness and chest pain, Inspector Lee placed him in the passenger seat and personally drove Mr. A's car to a nearby university hospital emergency room.

Gangseo Police Station Traffic Safety Division Sergeant Kang Hojin and Inspector Lee Seungjae are supporting the reporter and escorting them into the hospital emergency room. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency·Yonhap News Agency

Mr. A was able to receive emergency treatment quickly in the emergency room and, fortunately, his life was saved. After recovering, Mr. A expressed his gratitude, saying, "I was in a situation where I wondered if I should say my last words, but seeing the police officer running toward me made me think I might survive."

Inspector Lee told Yonhap News, "All I could think about was getting there as quickly as possible after receiving the call," adding, "I was just doing what I was supposed to do, but receiving such words of thanks makes me feel proud and deeply moved."