Driver Survives 1 Hour in Car Submerged in Reservoir, Dramatically Rescued

Fire Authorities: "Miraculously Saved Thanks to the Formation of an Air Pocket"

On the morning of the 23rd, firefighters are rescuing the driver from a submerged vehicle in Hoegok Reservoir, Gyeongsan City. (Photo by Gyeongsan Fire Station)

A driver who sank into a reservoir due to inexperienced driving and was submerged in 5 meters of water was dramatically rescued after about an hour.

According to the Gyeongsan Fire Station in Gyeongbuk on the 24th, a report was received around 7:14 a.m. the previous day stating, "A vehicle is sinking in the Heegok Reservoir in Yongseong-myeon, Gyeongsan-si."

The fire authorities immediately dispatched a team upon receiving the report, but by the time they arrived at the scene, the vehicle had already completely sunk underwater and was not visible.

The dispatched rescue team began an underwater search and found and rescued the driver after about an hour in the vehicle submerged at a depth of 5 meters. At the time of discovery, the driver was reported to be in a condition without life-threatening injuries except for mild hypothermia.

The reason the driver was able to endure for about an hour while the vehicle was fully submerged underwater appears to be due to an air pocket formed inside the vehicle.

A fire department official said, "The air pocket formed inside the vehicle allowed the driver to breathe inside, and thanks to the prompt response of the dispatched team, the driver miraculously survived," adding, "It was an accident caused by inexperienced driving, and there were no other passengers besides the driver."

Experts recommend escaping as quickly as possible if a vehicle becomes submerged. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's step-by-step action guidelines for vehicle submersion, it is important to exit the vehicle quickly before it is completely submerged.

Once water starts to enter the car engine, the engine will stall and the windows will not open, so windows should be opened before the vehicle is fully submerged. If the windows cannot be opened in time and the doors cannot be opened due to water pressure, breaking the window is the fastest way to escape. The side windows of a car are the thinnest, so use a tool or your foot to break the corner of the window and escape.

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