Off-duty firefighter, bystanders hold on until rescue team arrives

An off-duty firefighter who spotted a woman standing precariously outside a bridge railing on his morning exercise route joined forces with nearby bystanders to bring her to safety.

Lee Jae-dong, an equipment and accounting officer at the Gangwon Province Fire Department, was walking across Soyang 2nd Bridge in Chuncheon after his morning workout on Thursday when he noticed a woman, identified only as A, standing on the outer side of the railing.

Spotting her from a distance, Lee chose not to run, fearing it might startle her. Instead, he made eye contact and approached slowly and calmly.

The moment she crouched down, Lee grabbed her arm to prevent her from falling and called 119, South Korea's emergency services number.

While waiting for the rescue team to arrive, he kept talking to her to help her stay calm. Two passersby joined in to help.

When the 119 rescue team arrived, Lee worked alongside the responders to bring the woman to a safe location, after which she was handed over to police.

"Above all, I held on to her and kept talking because I knew I had to protect her life," Lee said. "I'm just relieved we were able to rescue her safely, thanks to the citizens who helped and the responders who came out."

If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.