Chinese tourists praised for saving 20 after bus driver loses consciousness on highway

A Chinese tourist recounted on social media on July 11 that the driver of an airport shuttle bus carrying 20 passengers mostly Chinese tourists from downtown Seoul to Incheon International Airport suddenly lost consciousness on a highway, The Standard newspaper reported.

Witnesses said the bus suddenly veered toward the roadside and began swerving erratically. Passengers seated near the front soon discovered that the driver had lost consciousness at the wheel.

A passenger surnamed Sun who was sitting two rows behind the driver rushed to the front and took hold of the steering wheel, safely guiding the bus onto the highway shoulder, the Global Times reported. Another female passenger applied the brakes and engaged the handbrake, bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop and helping avert what could have been a serious collision in heavy traffic.

After the bus came to a stop, passengers moved the unconscious driver into the aisle and took turns performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until paramedics arrived.

As the only passenger who spoke Korean, Sun called emergency services, telling dispatchers the driver was in cardiac arrest and asking them to send paramedics equipped with emergency medical gear.

The rescue soon went viral on social media, with many South Korean netizens praising the Chinese tourists for their composure and teamwork during the emergency.

One commenter wrote, “This is a heartwarming story. I hope the young women who helped with the rescue will be blessed with good luck and happiness, and I also hope the driver is safe and sound.”

Another said, “Facing such a sudden emergency in a foreign country where they did not speak the language must have been extremely frightening, but they were still able to respond so calmly. It is truly remarkable.”