Elderly Man Collapses at Lunch Restaurant... Off-Duty Firefighter Saves His Life

"Anyone Would Have Done the Same"
Elderly Man Receives Emergency Aid for Airway Obstruction with Heimlich Maneuver

During a busy lunchtime at a restaurant, an elderly man suddenly leaned back and collapsed in front of his meal. Silence and confusion filled the spot where his spoon had fallen. Some people froze, while others rushed to his side. Among them was an off-duty firefighter.

According to the Gwangju Fire and Safety Headquarters, at around 11 a.m. on the 27th, Song Hangyu, a fire lieutenant who was dining with an acquaintance at a restaurant in Yongjeon-dong, Buk-gu, heard a commotion from a nearby table and discovered the elderly man who had collapsed. The man's face had turned gray and his body was stiff, while the surrounding citizens were so panicked that they did not know what to do.

Han-kyu Song Fire Lieutenant

Lieutenant Song immediately recognized that the man was experiencing airway obstruction and performed the Heimlich maneuver. After about ten abdominal thrusts, the man regained consciousness. Song checked the man's mouth for food and then handed him over to the paramedics who had arrived.

The Heimlich maneuver is an emergency procedure used to remove foreign objects from the airway by applying abdominal pressure when someone is choking and unable to breathe.

Lieutenant Song said, "Any other firefighter would have acted the same way in this situation," and added, "I'm relieved that the elderly man regained consciousness."

The Gwangju Fire and Safety Headquarters stated, "A life was saved thanks to quick judgment and experience," and added, "We will continue to do our best to ensure the safety of citizens."

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