[EXCLUSIVE] Indian Prof saves Korean child from drowning in Han River in 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.
Han River in Seoul where the incident took place

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.