There was a case where a firefighter who always helped the citizens was helped by the citizens. It was confirmed late that the 3 minutes created by delaying KTX’s train operation time saved the life of a firefighter waiting for a heart transplant. It is a miracle created by the medical staff, KTX crew and passengers.
Reporter Goo Hye-jin will tell you.
[기자]
On the 13th of last month, a little over 8 pm, a call came to the station office in Dongdaegu Station.
I have to take a train that arrives in 10 minutes to transport the heart to be transplanted, but no matter how early I think it will be a few minutes late.
[이진선/장기이식 코디네이터 : 아이스박스 들고 있고 네 명이고 긴박하게 뛰어가실 거다.]
The next train takes another hour.
Fortunately, the station attendant informed the control room and the train of the urgent situation, and KTX arrived late in time for the medical staff to arrive.
[최창규/동대구역 역무원 : 역에서는 바로 열차를 세울 수 없거든요. 통제실에 연락해서 차를 승강장에서 대기시켰습니다.]
Three minutes after the original departure time, the medical staff was able to ride the Ktx with the heart to be implanted.
[신혜림/장기이식 코디네이터 : 도착하는 순간 그냥 탔다. 잘 탔다. 빨리 갈 수 있겠구나.]
The heart has the shortest golden time among organs.
[강준규/은평성모병원 흉부외과 교수 : 심근 보호의 한계치 시간이 4시간 정도 된다고 보시면 돼요. (시간이 지날수록) 심장 근육 세포들이 죽는 거죠. 제 기능을 못 하고.]
The person waiting for this heart was Seo Min-hwan, a thirty-nine-year-old firefighter who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy two years ago.
At the end of last year, the heart was unable to supply blood by itself, so even an ecmo was attached.
[서민환/장기이식 환자 : 견디기 힘든 시간이 좀 있었습니다. 에크모를 달면 하체를 아예 움직이지 못하고 거의 누워서만 생활해야 해서요.]
Seo, who received a heart transplant that day, recovered successfully and was discharged from the hospital.
[서민환/장기이식 환자 : 생명의 위험이 있는 시민들을 도와주고 구해주는 역할을 계속 수행하고 싶습니다.]