A drone was used to rescue an 80-year-old man with dementia who was wandering in the woods.
The Gwangju Fire Department dispatched a fire drone and rescue team to Central Park in Seo-gu on the afternoon of the 19th, locating the man just 50 minutes after receiving the missing person report.
The fire department received a call from the man's family, stating, "My father, who has dementia, has not returned home and cannot be reached."
The elderly man was not at home when his caregiver visited at 7 a.m., and his son reported the situation to the police station after realizing he was missing.
The Gwangju Fire Department's 119 Comprehensive Situation Room first sent a team from the Kumho Safety Center to the scene, followed by a command vehicle, rescue team, and a special rescue team equipped with drones.
A total of 34 personnel, including 14 firefighters and 20 police officers, were mobilized for the search, along with 10 vehicles, including rescue trucks, pump trucks, ambulances, and drones.
Upon arrival, firefighters searched the walking paths of Central Park and found the elderly man in the woods near the Kumho Comprehensive Social Welfare Center.
The drone, which flew swiftly and thoroughly scanned the walking paths, proved to be effective in the search.
When found, the man was conscious and had no major injuries, allowing firefighters to safely return him to his family.
Chae Deok-hyun, head of the Gwangju Fire Department's 119 Comprehensive Situation Room, stated, "The speed of initial response is crucial in missing person reports involving dementia patients," adding, "We will continue to work closely with related agencies like the police to ensure early recovery of missing persons."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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