Hiker Airlifted After Rescue in Pocheon Mountains in South Korea

Firefighters in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province rescued a hiker who collapsed near the summit of Baegunsan mountain in Pocheon on March 8, reaching him in about 90 minutes. The man in his 40s was suffering from exhaustion and muscle cramps in both thighs, with his companions describing him as "almost semi-conscious. After resting for about 30 minutes without improvement, the group called 119 at around 2:31 p.m. Pocheon Fire Station rescue crews arrived faster than expected, assessed the man's condition, and requested a fire helicopter.

Despite a steep rocky section between the report point and the helipad, the crew helped the man move, and he was airlifted to a hospital. Two days later, one of the companions posted a thank-you note titled "Deeply grateful" on the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Prevention Headquarters website, writing, "The rescue crew worked so hard to get us safely to the helipad and took full responsibility for the escort afterward. I felt boundless gratitude for the great help. Other rescues followed this month in northern Gyeonggi.