Siheung: A firefighter who had been battling depression since his deployment to the site of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush was discovered dead, officials reported. The tragic event marked 10 days since his disappearance.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the 30-year-old firefighter's body was located by a police officer under a bridge near an expressway in Siheung, just southwest of Seoul. The discovery was made around 12:30 p.m., following his disappearance on August 10. The last known sighting of the firefighter was earlier that morning when he passed a tollbooth in his vehicle.

Authorities have not found any signs of foul play and currently suspect that the firefighter met his end after moving towards the Siheung area. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death.

The firefighter had been receiving treatment for depression following his involvement in the response to the disastrous crowd crush in Itaewon's nightlife district during the Halloween weekend of 2022, which resulted in 159 fatalities. Before his disappearance, he reportedly left a note apologizing to his family and friends.

Rescue teams, consisting of 330 personnel, had been actively searching for the firefighter over the past 11 days in an effort to locate him.