These crew members, who suffered several fractures, are the only ones to have survived the crash on Sunday in Muan where 179 people lost their lives.
At 9:03 a.m. local time on Sunday morning, Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok crashed upon landing at Muan Airport in southwestern South Korea. This crash, the worst air disaster known to the country, cost the lives of 179 people. Only two, both crew members, were able to be saved by rescuers in the wreckage of the plane.
The two survivors were first taken to a hospital in the neighboring city of Mokpo, 311 kilometers south of Seoul, before being transferred to Ewha University Women's Hospital in the capital. Lee Im, one of the survivors who is a 33-year-old flight attendant, reportedly told doctors: “When I woke up, I had already been rescued”. Quoted by the entire Korean press, he also asked when he woke up: “What happened? Where am I?”while doctors questioned him about his injuries.
No memory of the accident
“We have not questioned him in detail about the circumstances of the accident because we believe he is traumatized and this will not help him recover.”Joo Woong, director of Mokpo Hospital, said during a briefing, according to comments reported by the Yonhap news agency. According to the same director, this time quoted by the Korea Times, Lee Im said he had fastened his seat belt as the plane prepared to land, but that he did not remember the events that occurred after landing.
The hospital official suggested his reaction may have been due to shock. “It appears he was in a state of near panic, probably because he was concerned about the safety of the plane and the passengers.” Asked about Lee Im's possible memory loss, the director replied: “He can communicate quite well”adding that the patient “is not yet at a stage where he can say anything about his memory loss”.
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Risk of paralysis for the steward
As for his patient's physical health, Joo Woong reported: “He is unable to move his neck because his spine is blocked, but he is able to make eye contact and give appropriate responses to questions.” According to the hospital director, Lee Im also maintains a “good power of evocation”or the ability to recognize the moment, the place where he is and the person with whom he is conversing.
The flight attendant has since been transferred to Asan Medical Center in Seoul at the request of his family, where he was diagnosed with five fractures, including the ninth and tenth thoracic vertebrae, shoulder blades and ribs. He also suffered lacerations to his forehead and scalp and is in an intensive care unit. According to the doctors who treated him, Lee Im risks serious consequences such as paralysis due to nerve damage. They also announced that their patient must consult the psychiatry department, in order to establish a psychological assessment.
The other victim also has no memory
The other crew member who survived, Koo Mo-soo, a 25-year-old flight attendant, suffered non-life-threatening injuries to her ankle and head, according to the agency. Yonhap Press. “Her head was wrapped in bandages, and she was taken to the emergency room lying on a stretcher, her face and body covered with a quilted sweater and quilt.”described the Korean news agency. “Three women, who appeared to be members of his family, were at his side”. She was also transferred from Mokpo Korean Hospital to Asan Medical Center in Seoul.
According to medical staff, Koo Mo-soo also does not remember the accident and said she felt pain in her head, ankle and abdomen. Hospital staff said she suffered a scalp laceration, a broken ankle, and was being tested for abdominal injuries. “His life is not in danger, but we did not have time to question him about the accident”added the director of Mokpo hospital.
