[EXCLUSIVE] Indian Prof saves Korean child from drowning in Han River in Seoul

NEW DELHI/SEOUL: Arokiyaraj Selvaraj, 39 – a biotechnology professor with Sejong University has done India proud by saving the life of a 5-year old South Korean child from drowning in the Han River in Seoul.

On Saturday, Selvaraj risked his life and jumped into the river the moment he spotted the child slipping into the river. Selvaraj who knew how to swim in still water as pond and lake had never swum in flowing water before this incident.

Had he been late for a few seconds, it could have been fatal for the child as Han River is one of the major rivers of South Korea and is about one and a half kilometer wide and hundreds of feet deep when it meanders through Seoul.

The incident took place on Saturday evening, June 13 at around 6.30 when Selvaraj along with his friend Anand Kumar and his family visited the popular Yeouido Hangang Park in the heart of Seoul. The park is situated on the Han Riverbank.  

“As I was sitting at the steps of the Han River after the photoshoot session, I noticed two kids – probably brother (appx 5) and sister (appx 7) playing along the river bank with no sight of their parents around. Then the duo crossed under the bar fence and reached close to the flowing river, and suddenly the girl left the kid behind and probably went to join their parents who were somewhere in the park unaware of their children’s location,” Selvaraj told Asian Community News (ACN) Network from Seoul over the phone.

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This was the time when Selvaraj developed goosebumps as the child was left alone on the side of the flowing river, and sensing imminent trouble he removed his shoes. Selvaraj was a few meters away from the child.

“And it was at that time the child stepped on to the slippery boulders to play with water. And in no time he slipped into the flowing river. Immediately, I rushed, scaled the iron fence, and jumped into the river with my clothes on. I managed to catch hold of the child before the powerful waves could have swept him away into the deep water away from the shore,” said Selvaraj.

Incidentally, the parents of the child along with their daughter too reached the spot as they were probably looking for their son who had skipped their attention and parted with them.

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The professor said “The child was coughing as he had swallowed water but was conscious as I managed to save him out of the river within seconds of he slipping into it. I don’t know the Korean language but I managed to explain to the parents the whole sequence by enacting the scene. They expressed gratitude for saving the life of their child,”  

The native of Pondicherry in South Indian state Tamil Nadu, Selvaraj has been living in  Korea for the past seven years.

A fear factor had just flashed in his mind just before Selvaraj jumped into the river to save the child from drowning.

“I am not a professional swimmer, and nor had I ever swum in flowing water. In my school days, I would swim in still water in pond and lake in my native place in Tamil Nadu but never tried it in any river. Also, I was carrying crucial documents like my ID Cards, etc in my wallet, and mobile phone in my pocket. But without giving a thought about anything, I risked my life and jumped into the water to save the child,” Selvaraj added.

Selvaraj has also shared the entire incident with the Indian embassy in Seoul.