Singapore: 81-Year-Old Man Found on Bartley HDB Rooftop After He Went Missing for 6 Days
An 81-year-old man was found on the roof of a recently built apartment building in Bidadari after he lost communication with his family for six days.
Lau Sung Pong, 81, was reported missing on May 1 after he failed to return home.
Joyce, 55, told AsiaOne that her father Lau, who has dementia but has been counseled by physicians to continue his regular routine, took the bus two stops later than intended.
In an interview, Joyce, who asked not to be identified by her full name, said, "He's generally strong and healthy, though his kidneys are not in the best condition due to his age". She is her father's primary caregiver.
Joyce called the police after failing to find Lau for two hours while driving and walking.
The police searched the Bidadari and Woodleigh neighborhood along with a number of family members in an attempt to locate the old man. On May 2, the police also released a request for information regarding Lau's location.
Denise Phua, the Jalan Besar GRC Member of Parliament, also made a plea for assistance on Wednesday, May 7, in a Facebook post that received more than 1,400 replies.
Amy Hoi, 43, who is Lau's niece, said, "We received several tips of his possible sightings, but we still could not find him throughout the next six days."
Lau was discovered on the rooftop of Block 227A Bartley Walk on Wednesday, May 8, less than 300 meters from where he was last seen.
Given that her father used to work in water tank repair and own a metal workshop, Joyce speculated that he might have wandered there as a result of his dementia.
According to reports, the temporary occupancy permit for the build-to-order apartment is still pending.
Several water tank contractors found the frail, slightly sunburned man and immediately called for an ambulance.
Hoi said that her uncle's survival was a "miracle" because Lau had gone for several days without eating.
"He is undergoing treatment as his kidney suffered trauma from the dehydration," she told Asia One, adding, "Other than that, he is very well."
Joyce said that her father is recuperating in hospital, adding that her family appreciates all the well wishes and tip offs from good Samaritans.
Hoi added, "Because of them sharing the news of Lau missing, we could reach out to such a wide network of people who really helped to look for him over these few days."
"Words can never be enough to express how deeply grateful we are to all of them," she said.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force told AsiaOne that they received a call for help at Block 277A Bartley Walk at approximately 6 pm on Wednesday. They added, "SCDF conveyed a person to Tan Tock Seng Hospital."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
Actor Jared Leto accused of sexual misconduct by nine women
Though Jared Leto's representative has 'expressly denied' the allegations, the actor-musician has yet to respond to them. PHOTO: AFP American actor and musician Jared Leto, who starred in films such as The Suicide Squad (2016) and House Of Gucci (2021), has been accused of sexual assault by nine women as young as 16 at the time of the alleged incidents. These accusations stretch over two decades, in which Leto, 53, is said to have continued to engage with the women. The accusations resurfaced when Los Angeles-based DJ Allie Teilz, 30, reposted one of her Facebook posts from 2012, in which she alleged that Leto had assaulted her when she was 17. She wrote: 'You're not really in Los Angeles until Jared Leto tries to force himself on you backstage… I was assaulted and traumatised by this creep when I was 17.' She described his actions as 'predatory, terrifying and unacceptable', as Leto 'knew her age', but claimed he 'did not care'. A second anonymous victim alleged that Leto approached her at a cafe in Los Angeles in 2006 when she was 16, according to a report by US-based newsletter Air Mail. Leto was said to have struck up a 'quick conversation' with the girl and got her number. According to the woman, their late-night conversations 'turned sexual'. Former model Laura La Rue, 33, also claimed that Leto had 'flirted' with her and 'teased' her when he invited her to his Los Angeles home after they had met at an animal rights benefit when she was 16. During a separate visit, Leto walked out of a room completely naked in front of her, claimed La Rue, who was 17 at that time. 'He just walked out... like it was normal… I thought maybe this was just what adult men do,' La Rue told Air Mail. Leto's representative denied La Rue's claims, stating: 'Their communications contain nothing sexual or inappropriate and Ms La Rue later applied to work as Mr Leto's personal assistant, further underscoring the absence of anything inappropriate in any of their interactions.' Though Leto's representative has 'expressly denied' the allegations, the actor has yet to respond to them. Leto, who made his acting debut in the television series Camp Wilder in 1992, won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for playing a transgender woman in the biographical drama Dallas Buyers Club (2013). In 2024, he performed at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix as the lead singer of rock band Thirty Seconds To Mars, which he co-founded with his brother Shannon Leto in 1998. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
17 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Singaporean man arrested in JB for road rage and allegedly damaging another vehicle, Malaysia News
A Singaporean man has been arrested in Johor Bahru after he was involved in a road rage incident during which he allegedly damaged another vehicle. In a video uploaded to Facebook on Saturday (June 7) by the victim's girlfriend, a man can be seen hurling vulgarities at another male driver. According to the woman who posted the video, the incident occurred when the couple were going for lunch, and the car in front of them stalled, causing a traffic jam. As the traffic piled up, drivers repeatedly sounded their horns. The couple also honked at the vehicle in front of them, urging it to move forward, but the vehicle moved a bit before stopping again. At this point, the driver of a Singapore-registered car behind them got out and confronted the couple, accusing them of not honking or urging the vehicle in front to move. The woman said that during the altercation, the driver allegedly spat at and pushed her boyfriend, inciting him to fight. As she was unwell, the woman advised her boyfriend not to react. Before the driver left, the woman's boyfriend suggested that they go to the police station together to resolve the matter. The man then flew into a rage, kicking and hitting their car, leaving a visible dent. He later responded that he would follow the couple to the police station but left instead. The victim filed a police report shortly after. In a statement released on June 8, the North Johor Bahru District Police said that they received a report on June 7 from a 31-year-old local man, concerning an incident that occurred at about 2.40pm while he was driving a BMW in Skudai, Johor. According to the statement, the complainant was honked at several times by a 40-year-old Singaporean driving a Toyota Altis with a Singapore-registered licence plate. A verbal argument then ensued, during which the complainant's car was damaged. The police also stated that the Singaporean was subsequently arrested, noting that he has no prior criminal record and tested negative for drugs. He is expected to be produced in court on June 9. [[nid:717607]]
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
Jared Leto facing allegations from 9 women of inappropriate behaviour, Entertainment News
Jared Leto is facing allegations from nine women of inappropriate behaviour, including with a teenage girl. The frontman of 30 Seconds to Mars and star of films including House of Gucci and Suicide Squad, 53, is alleged to have inflicted the behaviour on them over the course of nearly two decades, and the accusations involve women who say they were teenagers at the time of the alleged incidents. According to an expose published by Air Mail, the claims, which have apparently circulated in Hollywood for years, have now been brought into the open, with one woman stating to the outlet: "It's been an open secret for a long time." The accusations came to light after Los Angeles-based DJ Allie Teilz, 30, re-shared a 2012 Facebook post on her Instagram Stories, in which she alleged Jared assaulted her when she was 17. She claimed: "You're not really in LA until Jared Leto tries to force himself on you backstage… in a kilt… And a snow hat. "I was assaulted and traumatised by this creep when I was 17." She further alleged Jared "knew" her age but "didn't care", describing his actions as "predatory, terrifying and unacceptable". A second woman, who remained anonymous, told Air Mail Jared approached her in 2006 when she was 16 at Urth Caffe in Los Angeles. She said: "I looked down and it was Jared Leto. We had a quick conversation, and he got my number." She claimed the actor called her days later, adding: "I don't know if he was on drugs or what… it was the weirdest, grossest voice… (but) for me, it's Jared, you know?" The woman alleged their late-night conversations "turned sexual", and claimed Leto asked: "Have you ever had a boyfriend? Have you ever sucked a d***?" Model Laura La Rue, 33, also alleged she met Leto in 2008 when she was 16 and he was 36, at a Yes! on Prop Two animal rights benefit. She said: "He asked how old I was. I said, 'I'm 16. How old are you?'" La Rue claimed Jared still asked for her number despite knowing her age, and later invited her to his Los Angeles home, where he was "flirting" and "teasing (her) the whole time (she) was there." [[nid:717248]] Jared's representative denied La Rue's and the other accounts to Air Mail, stating: "Their communications contain nothing sexual or inappropriate and Ms La Rue later applied to work as Mr Leto's personal assistant, further underscoring the absence of anything inappropriate in any of their interactions." La Rue denied applying for such a role. More females made accusations against Jared to Air Mail, while sources also described parties at his Los Angeles home with a ratio of 60 "very young women to four or five men", where guests were allegedly encouraged to skinny dip. Jared's publicist said the actor "has not had a drink or used drugs in over 35 years".
