Recovery teams working at the scene where the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport on Dec 30, 2024. - AFP
SEOUL: One of two flight attendants who survived Sunday's (Dec 29) fatal plane crash has not stated much about the accident, as he told doctors that he "woke up to find himself rescued" and medical staff have refrained from asking further questions to not invoke greater trauma.
Ju Woong, chief of Ewha Womans University Medical Center where the flight attendant surnamed Lee is being treated, told reporters Sunday night that the male survivor of the accident has not spoken about specifics of the accident that occured at around 9am on Sunday.
"There is the trauma (from the accident), and we did not ask specifically about the accident since it does not help him recover," Ju said.
When asked whether Lee is suffering memory loss, Ju said it remains premature to discuss such a possibility. He added that Lee is fully capable of communication.
Lee was initially taken to a hospital in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, but was transferred to the Seoul-based medical center at around 4:15pm on Sunday. He was diagnosed with fractures to five parts of the body, along with lacerations on the forehead and scalp.
He is currently under intensive care due to the possibility of paralysis from neurological damage, and is slated to be treated by psychiatrists for potential psychological damage from the tragedy.
The other survivor from the crash, a female flight attendant surnamed Gu, is being treated at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. She suffered injuries to her ankle and head, which do not appear to be life-threatening.
Medical staff at the hospital refused to comment on specifics of her condition.
Lee and Gu are the sole survivors of Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, which crash-landed at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province. The plane landed without deploying landing gear due to an unconfirmed cause, leaving 179 of the 181 passengers and crew dead.
Authorities are still conducting an identification process of the victims, along with an investigation into the exact cause of the accident.
The South Korean government has designated a seven-day national mourning period to extend until midnight on Jan 4. - The Korea Herald/ANN
