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AsiaOne
5 days ago
- AsiaOne
'We couldn't just stand by and do nothing': Samaritans recount helping after Braddell Road accident
SINGAPORE — Ms Nur Zanna and her colleague Addy Izwan were on their way to Jurong for a delivery job on May 27 when they saw a gas cylinder fly through the air on Braddell Road. The sight was quickly followed by smoke, about two vehicles length ahead of them, telling them that something was wrong. Realising that there was an accident there between two lorries, they then stopped their car at the side of the road near Raffles Girls' School to help, after informing the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Before them was a scene of chaos — gas cylinders and shattered glass, from the lorries' smashed windscreens, strewn all around the two vehicles, and the driver of one of the lorries looking badly injured. Three people, including the drivers of both lorries, were conscious when taken to the hospital. One of the drivers, a 36-year-old man, later died. While the smell of gas lingered in the air in the accident's aftermath, Ms Zanna and Mr Addy did not hesitate before they stepped forward to help. "We immediately jumped into action, and started picking up the canisters and transferring them to a grass patch because we were afraid it might come into contact with the vehicles and cause an explosion or fire," Mr Addy, 37, said. The pair recalled other drivers yelling at them for doing so as the cylinders could catch fire, but continued doing so because they "couldn't just stand by and do nothing". "I remember thinking, 'If I die, I die doing a good deed and trying to help people'. It was a no-brainer," Mr Addy said. Together with others who had stopped to help, Ms Zanna and Mr Addy formed a human chain to move the gas cylinders, before they checked on the trapped drivers. At this point, a small fire had started on the lorry that carried the gas cylinders, with its driver calling out for assistance. "He was waving his hands and saying 'Help, help' very weakly. There was so much blood on his face and clothes," Mr Addy said, noting that the man had serious injuries, including an open leg fracture. "He looked so scared and was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't understand what he was saying in Mandarin." He asked another Samaritan to quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher in that lorry, as he and others tried to extricate the driver from the other lorry, which was on its side. Mr Addy climbed on top of the second lorry and tried unsuccessfully to open the jammed door. "Even if we managed to get it open, I was afraid of moving him because I did not know how badly he was injured. But the man kept repeating 'Don't let me go', so all I could do was assure him help was coming, and keep him awake along with the rest of the people who had gathered." "I remember I kept saying 'Don't let him sleep, don't let him sleep'," Mr Addy said, referring to the second lorry's driver. Once SCDF officers arrived, those who had gathered to help earlier stepped back and let the first responders work. Another lorry had also arrived then to collect the gas cylinders. Mr Addy and Ms Zanna, 38, then decided to get back to their vehicle at about 2.20pm and continue their journey towards Jurong. The pair then found out later that evening that a driver had died after he was taken to the hospital. When contacted, a Union Gas spokesperson confirmed that the deceased was a foreign employee who was out for deliveries when the accident happened. "We are in touch with his family and our immediate focus is to offer whatever assistance they need during this difficult time," the spokesperson said. "After we read the news, I just kept thinking about how I saw him last, which was him asking for help so weakly. What happened was very sad," Mr Addy said with a sigh. "But I still don't regret risking my life trying to save him. It's only human of me to want to help anyone in that situation," he added. [[nid:718095]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- AsiaOne
'We couldn't just stand by and do nothing': Samaritans recount helping after Braddell Road accident, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Ms Nur Zanna and her colleague Addy Izwan were on their way to Jurong for a delivery job on May 27 when they saw a gas cylinder fly through the air on Braddell Road. The sight was quickly followed by smoke, about two vehicles length ahead of them, telling them that something was wrong. Realising that there was an accident there between two lorries, they then stopped their car at the side of the road near Raffles Girls' School to help, after informing the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Before them was a scene of chaos — gas cylinders and shattered glass, from the lorries' smashed windscreens, strewn all around the two vehicles, and the driver of one of the lorries looking badly injured. Three people, including the drivers of both lorries, were conscious when taken to the hospital. One of the drivers, a 36-year-old man, later died. While the smell of gas lingered in the air in the accident's aftermath, Ms Zanna and Mr Addy did not hesitate before they stepped forward to help. "We immediately jumped into action, and started picking up the canisters and transferring them to a grass patch because we were afraid it might come into contact with the vehicles and cause an explosion or fire," Mr Addy, 37, said. The pair recalled other drivers yelling at them for doing so as the cylinders could catch fire, but continued doing so because they "couldn't just stand by and do nothing". "I remember thinking, 'If I die, I die doing a good deed and trying to help people'. It was a no-brainer," Mr Addy said. Together with others who had stopped to help, Ms Zanna and Mr Addy formed a human chain to move the gas cylinders, before they checked on the trapped drivers. At this point, a small fire had started on the lorry that carried the gas cylinders, with its driver calling out for assistance. "He was waving his hands and saying 'Help, help' very weakly. There was so much blood on his face and clothes," Mr Addy said, noting that the man had serious injuries, including an open leg fracture. "He looked so scared and was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't understand what he was saying in Mandarin." He asked another Samaritan to quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher in that lorry, as he and others tried to extricate the driver from the other lorry, which was on its side. Mr Addy climbed on top of the second lorry and tried unsuccessfully to open the jammed door. "Even if we managed to get it open, I was afraid of moving him because I did not know how badly he was injured. But the man kept repeating 'Don't let me go', so all I could do was assure him help was coming, and keep him awake along with the rest of the people who had gathered." "I remember I kept saying 'Don't let him sleep, don't let him sleep'," Mr Addy said, referring to the second lorry's driver. Once SCDF officers arrived, those who had gathered to help earlier stepped back and let the first responders work. Another lorry had also arrived then to collect the gas cylinders. Mr Addy and Ms Zanna, 38, then decided to get back to their vehicle at about 2.20pm and continue their journey towards Jurong. The pair then found out later that evening that a driver had died after he was taken to the hospital. When contacted, a Union Gas spokesperson confirmed that the deceased was a foreign employee who was out for deliveries when the accident happened. "We are in touch with his family and our immediate focus is to offer whatever assistance they need during this difficult time," the spokesperson said. "After we read the news, I just kept thinking about how I saw him last, which was him asking for help so weakly. What happened was very sad," Mr Addy said with a sigh. "But I still don't regret risking my life trying to save him. It's only human of me to want to help anyone in that situation," he added. [[nid:718095]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
New Paper
5 days ago
- New Paper
'We couldn't just stand by and do nothing': Samaritans recount helping after Braddell Road accident
Ms Nur Zanna and her colleague Addy Izwan were on their way to Jurong for a delivery job on May 27 when they saw a gas cylinder fly through the air on Braddell Road. The sight was quickly followed by smoke, about two vehicles length ahead of them, telling them that something was wrong. Realising that there was an accident there between two lorries, they then stopped their car at the side of the road near Raffles Girls' School to help, after informing the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Before them was a scene of chaos - gas cylinders and shattered glass, from the lorries' smashed windscreens, strewn all around the two vehicles, and the driver of one of the lorries looking badly injured. Three people, including the drivers of both lorries, were conscious when taken to the hospital. One of the drivers, a 36-year-old man, later died. While the smell of gas lingered in the air in the accident's aftermath, Ms Zanna and Mr Addy did not hesitate before they stepped forward to help. "We immediately jumped into action, and started picking up the canisters and transferring them to a grass patch because we were afraid it might come into contact with the vehicles and cause an explosion or fire," Mr Addy, 37, said. The pair recalled other drivers yelling at them for doing so as the cylinders could catch fire, but continued doing so because they "couldn't just stand by and do nothing". "I remember thinking, 'If I die, I die doing a good deed and trying to help people'. It was a no-brainer," Mr Addy said. Together with others who had stopped to help, Mr Zanna and Mr Addy formed a human chain to move the gas cylinders, before they checked on the trapped drivers. At this point, a small fire had started on the lorry that carried the gas cylinders, with its driver calling out for assistance. "He was waving his hands and saying 'Help, help' very weakly. There was so much blood on his face and clothes," Mr Addy said, noting that the man had serious injuries, including an open leg fracture. "He looked so scared and was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't understand what he was saying in Mandarin." He asked another Samaritan to quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher in that lorry, as he and others tried to extricate the driver from the other lorry, which was on its side. Ms Nur Zanna and Mr Addy Izwan, along with other good samaritans, sprung into action once they realised that a serious collision had taken place in Braddell Road. PHOTO: NUR ZANNA Mr Addy climbed on top of the second lorry and tried unsuccessfully to open the jammed door. "Even if we managed to get it open, I was afraid of moving him because I did not know how badly he was injured. But the man kept repeating 'Don't let me go', so all I could do was assure him help was coming, and keep him awake along with the rest of the people who had gathered." "I remember I kept saying 'Don't let him sleep, don't let him sleep'," Mr Addy said, referring to the second lorry's driver. Once SCDF officers arrived, those who had gathered to help earlier stepped back and let the first responders work. Another lorry had also arrived then to collect the gas cylinders. Mr Addy and Ms Zanna, 38, then decided to get back to their vehicle at about 2.20pm and continue their journey towards Jurong. The pair then found out later that evening that a driver had died after he was taken to the hospital. When contacted, a Union Gas spokesperson confirmed that the deceased was a foreign employee who was out for deliveries when the accident happened. "We are in touch with his family and our immediate focus is to offer whatever assistance they need during this difficult time," the spokesperson said. "After we read the news, I just kept thinking about how I saw him last, which was him asking for help so weakly. What happened was very sad," Mr Addy said with a sigh. "But I still don't regret risking my life trying to save him. It's only human of me to want to help anyone in that situation," he added.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Straits Times
‘We couldn't just stand by and do nothing': Samaritans recount helping after Braddell Road accident
Mr Addy Izwan (pictured on top of the lorry) tries unsuccessfully to open the door of a lorry on its side on May 27. PHOTO: NUR ZANNA 'We couldn't just stand by and do nothing': Samaritans recount helping after Braddell Road accident SINGAPORE - Ms Nur Zanna and her colleague Addy Izwan were on their way to Jurong for a delivery job on May 27 when they saw a gas cylinder fly through the air on Braddell Road. The sight was quickly followed by smoke, about two vehicles length ahead of them, telling them that something was wrong. Realising that there was an accident there between two lorries, they then stopped their car at the side of the road near Raffles Girls' School to help, after informing the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Before them was a scene of chaos – gas cylinders and shattered glass, from the lorries' smashed windscreens, strewn all around the two vehicles, and the driver of one of the lorries looking badly injured. Three people, including the drivers of both lorries, were conscious when taken to the hospital. One of the drivers, a 36-year-old man, later died. While the smell of gas lingered in the air in the accident's aftermath, Ms Zanna and Mr Addy did not hesitate before they stepped forward to help. 'We immediately jumped into action, and started picking up the canisters and transferring them to a grass patch because we were afraid it might come into contact with the vehicles and cause an explosion or fire,' Mr Addy, 37, said. The pair recalled other drivers yelling at them for doing so as the cylinders could catch fire, but continued doing so because they 'couldn't just stand by and do nothing'. 'I remember thinking, 'If I die, I die doing a good deed and trying to help people'. It was a no-brainer,' Mr Addy said. Together with others who had stopped to help, Mr Zanna and Mr Addy formed a human chain to move the gas cylinders, before they checked on the trapped drivers. At this point, a small fire had started on the lorry that carried the gas cylinders, with its driver calling out for assistance. 'He was waving his hands and saying 'Help, help' very weakly. There was so much blood on his face and clothes,' Mr Addy said, noting that the man had serious injuries, including an open leg fracture. 'He looked so scared and was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't understand what he was saying in Mandarin.' He asked another Samaritan to quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher in that lorry, as he and others tried to extricate the driver from the other lorry, which was on its side. Ms Nur Zanna and Mr Addy Izwan, along with other good samaritans, sprung into action once they realised that a serious collision had taken place in Braddell Road. PHOTO: NUR ZANNA Mr Addy climbed on top of the second lorry and tried unsuccessfully to open the jammed door. 'Even if we managed to get it open, I was afraid of moving him because I did not know how badly he was injured. But the man kept repeating 'Don't let me go', so all I could do was assure him help was coming, and keep him awake along with the rest of the people who had gathered.' 'I remember I kept saying 'Don't let him sleep, don't let him sleep',' Mr Addy said, referring to the second lorry's driver. Once SCDF officers arrived, those who had gathered to help earlier stepped back and let the first responders work. Another lorry had also arrived then to collect the gas cylinders. Mr Addy and Ms Zanna, 38, then decided to get back to their vehicle at about 2.20pm and continue their journey towards Jurong. The pair then found out later that evening that a driver had died after he was taken to the hospital. When contacted, a Union Gas spokesperson confirmed that the deceased was a foreign employee who was out for deliveries when the accident happened. 'We are in touch with his family and our immediate focus is to offer whatever assistance they need during this difficult time,' the spokesperson said. 'After we read the news, I just kept thinking about how I saw him last, which was him asking for help so weakly. What happened was very sad,' Mr Addy said with a sigh. 'But I still don't regret risking my life trying to save him. It's only human of me to want to help anyone in that situation,' he added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
27-04-2025
- Health
- New Paper
I learnt first aid but hesitated when it mattered
You sign up for spin class, try out yoga or power through a HIIT session - all in the name of self-improvement. But what if the most important skill you can learn is not about getting fitter, but saving a life? A few months ago, I saw someone sitting on the floor of a mall. She had just fainted and was visibly unwell. A small crowd gathered around, fanning her and throwing out suggestions. No one seemed to know what to do, including me. Here's the kicker: I'm one of 47,583 people in Singapore certified in first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. I had attended about 24 hours of training sessions in occupational first aid at the Singapore Red Cross Academy (SRCA) back in 2022. But at that moment, I just stood there frozen, having completely forgotten everything I learnt three years ago. Instead of stepping up, I walked past, convincing myself someone else would handle it. For days afterwards, I couldn't shake off the guilt. What was the point of that shiny certification if I couldn't even remember how to use what I had learnt? I was impressed by 15-year-old Alva Wong, recently in the news for performing CPR when an elderly man collapsed outside Cedele bakery at Velocity @ Novena Square. Alva Wong, a Secondary 4 student at Raffles Girls' School and Red Cross Youth cadet, overcame her self-doubt and applied cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a man at Velocity @ Novena Square on March 10. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Despite doubting herself, the student at Raffles Girls' School managed to keep him alive until the paramedics arrived. That kind of courage is something we can all aspire towards. When I opened up about my experience to family and friends, I discovered I wasn't alone. Many of them had, like me, taken first aid and CPR-AED courses in a fit of self betterment at some point, and never bothered with a refresher. We all knew it was an important skill to have and hone, but in the chaos of life, it had slipped through the cracks in terms of priorities. And that is when it hit me. Learning first aid and CPR-AED isn't just a "good to have" skill, but possibly the most important thing you will ever learn. Singapore's Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Data Report (2011 to 2021), compiled by the Ministry of Health's Unit for Pre-hospital Emergency Care, shows that each year, more than 3,000 people suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, with a survival rate of just 19.9 per cent in 2021. Meanwhile, findings from the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of CPR+AED Survey 2024 - conducted by the Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) - revealed that 56 per cent of 1,001 residents aged 16 to 64 in Singapore had learnt CPR. But only 36 per cent were equipped with the skills to use an AED, a portable medical device used to help people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Awareness of where to locate these life-saving devices was also relatively low at 58 per cent. That is a step up from 2020, when just 50 per cent had learnt CPR and only 28 per cent knew how to use an AED. When you think of CPR, maybe your brain conjures up images of Baywatch-style rescues or a scene from Grey's Anatomy. Cue dramatic music. Real life is far more prosaic. Cardiac arrest can happen literally anywhere - at a concert, in the gym or on the MRT during rush hour. And survival rates drop by 7 to 10 per cent for every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation. If you are there and know what to do while the ambulance is en route, it could mean the difference between life and death. Of course, the idea of performing CPR is terrifying. What if I push too hard? What if I break someone's ribs? What if I panic and freeze? These are valid fears I have, too, but here's the thing: Doing something is almost always better than doing nothing. (Fun fact: Ribs are often broken during properly administered CPR.) And AEDs? They're basically foolproof. Open the device, follow the voice instructions and let the machine do its thing. If Siri can guide you to the nearest bubble tea shop, an AED can guide you through a cardiac emergency. Despite going for CPR training, some of my friends say they still wouldn't dare to step in. So, it's not just about knowledge. It is also about having the courage to act when it counts. It is easy to say, "I'll call for help", but taking the first step to get involved - especially when someone's life is on the line - is a whole other ball game. When I caught up with Mr Syafawi Ho recently - he was the senior adjunct trainer at SRCA who had conducted my first aid course in 2022 - he wasn't surprised by my hesitation at the mall. "It's extremely common," he says, adding that confidence and composure in emergencies cannot be taught in a classroom. So, what can one do? His tip: Download the Singapore Civil Defence Force's myResponder app. "When you receive an alert, go forward, regardless of whether you remember exactly what to do," he says. The point, he explains, is that people do not encounter real-life emergencies often enough, so when they do happen, they feel foreign. "Go to the location, observe and familiarise yourself with what happens," he advises. "Look at how things are done, ask if you can help in any way." Even small actions such as clearing the path for paramedics or calling 995 can make a difference, he adds. Some countries recognise that CPR is not just a useful skill, but also a necessity. In Norway and Sweden, for instance, CPR training is a compulsory part of the school curriculum, ensuring that children learn life-saving skills from a young age. Similarly, the United Kingdom made CPR training mandatory in secondary schools in 2020. Imagine if every household in Singapore had someone trained in CPR and AED use - we could become a nation of lifesavers. Learning CPR-AED doesn't require months of training or a PhD in medicine. Many organisations, like the SHF and SRCA, offer short courses that fit into a single afternoon. By the end of it, you will know how to perform chest compressions, use an AED and have the confidence to handle one of life's scariest moments. So, the next time you are scrolling through TikTok or refreshing your cart during a Shopee sale, maybe pause to book that first aid and CPR-AED class instead. As for me, I'm finally going to sign up for that refresher.
