SEOUL — Seven newcomers to the 168th Medical Battalion assisted a South Korean man who fell onto train tracks at Seoul Station on Monday, according to U.S. military officials.
The seven planned to return to their barracks after a long day of administrative briefings in Daegu, Sgt. Eric Zeigenmeyer said. But when Pvt. Baek Yoon-min saw a middle-aged Korean man walking strangely along the platform, plans changed.
“I was watching him walk and it looked like he might fall,” said Baek, a Korean augumentee working with the unit as a medic. “Then he fell.”
The man dropped about three feet and struck his head on the train tracks, losing consciousness.
Baek, Pvt. Jennifer Goeble and Pvt. Amber Work rushed to his aid.
Fearing a train might come into the station at any moment, Baek and two Korean men moved the unconscious man off the tracks and onto the platform.
Baek said he acted on instinct and reflexes instilled by his training as a medic.
“At the time, we didn’t think about it,” Baek said when asked how he felt about jumping onto the tracks. “But afterward it was a little nerve-racking.”
Zeigenmeyer said the soldiers didn’t really think about potential danger or consequences while attempting to help the man.
“It was too quick,” he said. “They went and did what had to be done.”
Zeigenmeyer immobilized the man’s head, Goeble used her jacket to stabilize his neck and control bleeding and Baek and Work checked his vital signs.
Pfc. Michael Mcphatter, Pvt. Kimberly Lewis and Pvt. Seo Joon-jung worked to keep bystanders from the man.
The man regained consciousness after about five minutes and complained of a headache. When he began choking, the medics rolled him onto his side until he stopped.
South Korean medics arrived about 20 minutes after the man fell. Baek updated the ambulance crew on the man’s condition and the soldiers helped load him onto the ambulance.
Zeigenmeyer informed his chain of command about the incident upon return to Yongsan Garrison. He said they have no idea what happened to the man.
Seoul Station officials said Thursday they were aware of the incident but were unable to provide information on the man’s condition or location.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hwang Hae-rym contributed to this story.
