Miraculous Rescue of a 70-Year-Old Man Isolated on a 13th Floor Balcony for 18 Hours

Scenes of escaping by climbing a rope made from the clothes one was wearing may seem like something out of a movie.

However, a situation like this recently unfolded in reality.

According to the Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the 15th, Police Officer Yoo Jae-il and Sergeant Kim Du-tae discovered an elderly woman, referred to as A, isolated on her 13th-floor balcony while patrolling around Independence Gate Station at around 10 a.m. on the 12th and successfully rescued her.

A had gone out to water her potted plants on the balcony at around 4 p.m. on the 11th when the door accidentally locked, leaving her trapped on the balcony for an astonishing 18 hours.

The balcony door could only be opened from the inside, which plunged A into despair.

Due to the height of the apartment and the busy road in front of it, A shouted "Help!" several times while opening the balcony window, but her calls were drowned out by traffic noise, leaving no one nearby aware of her dire situation.

The elderly woman demonstrated resourcefulness, highlighting the importance of active patrols.

In a desperate effort to survive, A tied together the clothes and fabric scraps she had piled up on one side, hanging them out the window and waiting for someone to notice her.

Fortunately, this urgent signal for help ultimately saved A's life.

The rescue signal was recognized by Officer Yoo and Sergeant Kim, who immediately identified the long rope made from clothes as a sign of distress.

The two moved quickly to the respective floor, accessed the situation in the balcony via the upper unit, secured the door’s password, and promptly entered the apartment.

A was safely rescued and handed over to her caregiver.

The police stated, "The quick judgment to not overlook a distress signal that could easily be missed holds great significance in saving a life," adding, “This serves as a reminder of the importance of establishing safety nets in the community and the role of police patrols.”

This incident shows the safety issues faced by elderly individuals living alone and emphasizes how crucial attentive observation by the police is in everyday emergencies.

It particularly indicates the growing need for safety nets for solitary seniors and community engagement in an aging society.

Image source: Jongno Police, reference material for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank