Firefighter Perishes Following Disappearance Amidst Itaewon Crowd Crush Incident
A firefighter who responded to the tragic Itaewon crowd crush incident in 2022 was found dead on Wednesday. The missing firefighter, identified as a man in his 30s, was discovered beneath a bridge near an expressway in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province.
The disaster, which took place in the nightlife district in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was South Korea's worst such disaster. The firefighter was last seen driving through the South Incheon Tollgate on Aug. 9. His car was found abandoned on the shoulder near the tollgate.
The circumstances suggest that he went missing likely due to stress or trauma related to the incident. The last signal from his phone was traced to Seochang-dong, Incheon. A search for the missing firefighter was conducted in Incheon for 11 days, with a total of 330 personnel, along with search dogs and drones, mobilized for the effort.
The firefighter had been diagnosed with depression in December 2022, following the Itaewon disaster. He also recently suffered losses from cryptocurrency investments. Prior to his disappearance, he left a note on his phone.
An autopsy may be conducted in consultation with the bereaved family, and the authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of death. No signs of foul play were found in his death. The firefighter had been receiving therapy and treatment provided by the National Fire Agency and the Incheon Fire Department.
Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased firefighter during this difficult time.
