A man in his 30s [3] was found in cardiac arrest after being pulled into a water-intake structure in the Han River near Jamsil Bridge.
The incident highlights the hidden dangers of urban river structures, where artificial barriers designed to regulate water flow can create lethal currents for swimmers.
Emergency services received a report of the incident at 8:40 a.m. on July 1, 2024 [1]. Rescue teams located the man within seven minutes [2]. The victim had been swimming in the river during a period of continued heatwaves, Song Su-hyeon said.
The accident occurred at a submerged weir, a structure used to control the flow of the Han River. These structures can create dangerous conditions when water falls over the edge, forming a powerful vortex. This circular current can trap swimmers and pull them underwater.
An official from the Han River Ttukseom Water Rescue Team explained the mechanics of the danger. He said that swimmers often attach tubes to their wrists or ankles to rest when they become tired, but the vortex created by the weir can still pull them in.
"When water falls at the weir, a fluctuating vortex is formed," the official said. "As a result, one can be sucked into that area."
The rescue operation took place in the vicinity of Jamsil Bridge in Seoul. While the man was located quickly by the rescue team, the force of the vortex is often too strong for swimmers to escape without professional assistance.
“A man in his 30s was found in cardiac arrest after being pulled into a water-intake structure.”
This incident underscores the risk of 'hydraulic jumps' or recirculating currents common at weirs and dams. Even experienced swimmers or those using flotation devices can be overwhelmed by these vortices, which act as underwater traps. As extreme heat drives more people to swim in urban waterways, the presence of these structural hazards creates a persistent public safety risk in Seoul's river system.
