"Daughter Ran First"... Firefighter Father and Daughter Rescue Man Who Fell Into Reservoir on a Holiday [Heartwarming]

[Financial News] A firefighter from the Gunsan Fire Station rescued a man in his 70s who fell into a reservoir while out on a holiday outing with her father.
According to the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters on the 15th, Fire Captain Lee Hye-rim, 33, of the Gunsan Fire Station, and her father, Lee Min-gu, 62, a volunteer firefighter with the Cheongha Volunteer Fire Brigade under the Gimje Fire Station, rescued the man from the water at around 7 p.m. on the 11th at a reservoir in Gimje, Jeonbuk.
The two were heading to a local lotus festival venue when they spotted the man flailing in the water. They stopped their car, immediately called 119, and ran into the reservoir.
The man in his 70s was reportedly intoxicated and unable to steady himself, leaving him in a dangerous state as he nearly sank into the water. While the father and daughter were pulling him out, their feet got stuck in the mud, and his body sank back into the water, with his face going under as well.
Lee said, "At that moment, all I could think was that we had to keep his head above water." She added, "My father and I held on until the end and moved him out of the water."
Lee, who holds a level 1 emergency rescue technician certification, checked the man's consciousness, breathing, and any signs of injury until paramedics arrived. The man was found to have no major health issues and was handed over to his family.
The man reportedly fell into the reservoir while trying to pick a lotus flower after seeing the blossoms and thinking of his late parents.
Lee joined the fire service in 2014 and has worked at fire, rescue, and emergency scenes ever since. On the day of the accident, she was spending time with her family in casual clothes rather than her uniform.
She said, "I could not ignore an emergency right in front of me." She added, "Firefighters are people who protect citizens' lives, even outside working hours."
Her father, Lee Min-gu, said, "When I saw my daughter run in first, I followed right away." He added, "Through my volunteer fire brigade work, I have always learned that saving lives comes first, so I am relieved that he was rescued safely."
He added, "If there is ever a place in the region that needs help, I will run there anytime."
Jin Hyeong-min, head of the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters, said, "I am grateful for the courage and sense of duty shown by the two of them, who put their bodies on the line for a citizen's life regardless of whether they were on duty." He added, "It seems to show that the mission of firefighting continues in everyday life as well."

sms@fnnews.com Sung Min-seo Reporter