High school girl saves stroke victim

Pungam High School student Hwang Hyun-hee, center, poses with her teachers at her school in Gwangju, Friday, after receiving an award from BHC Chicken director Moon Sang-man, second from right. / Courtesy of BHC Chicken

By Park Jae-hyuk

A 17-year-old female high school student living in Gwangju has recently been in the spotlight for saving a stroke victim in his 50s.

She is Hwang Hyun-hee, a sophomore at Pungam High School in the southwestern city.

On Oct. 24, Hwang witnessed a man collapse in the street, while she was riding on a bus around 4 p.m.

She immediately got off the bus at a nearby stop, and ran to the man.

After asking a middle-aged passerby to call an ambulance, she stopped the victim's bleeding from injuries sustained in the fall with wet wipes.

A 13-year-old female middle school student named Min Se-eun helped her.

When the ambulance arrived, Hwang called the man's mother and went to a hospital with him.

As the man could not undergo surgery without a guardian, the student ran to his mother and carried the old woman to the hospital on her back.

“When the man collapsed alone, there was no one to help him, so I thought he might lose his life if I do not go to him,” Hwang said. “I have been interested in emergency measures, and my experience at my school's first aid club helped a lot.”

BHC Chicken selected Hwang as the hero of the month, and delivered 300 boxes of chicken to her school Friday, for all sophomores to enjoy.

“Anyone else would do the same, if they witness such situations. I would like to thank the passerby and the student who helped me,” Hwang said. “I just did what I should do. Thank you for encouraging me and making a good memory for me.”

She was also awarded by LG Foundation for her heroic act. LG also awarded a prize to Min.