Praise for medic who helped man in accident

By Lee Jian Xuan, The Straits Times, 10 Oct 2013

WHEN Private Ong Liang Kun was on his way to his camp at Paya Lebar Air Base on Sept 23, he witnessed a collision between a taxi and a motorcycle.

While the 19-year-old noticed that many passers-by chose to ignore it, it was the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Medical Corps Pledge he took months ago which prompted him to help.

In a post on the Singapore Army Facebook page on Tuesday, the full-time national serviceman shared his account of the incident, which happened at a cross-junction between Hougang Avenue 3 and Eunos Link at about 7.30am.

The service medic said that words from the pledge came to mind: "I will save lives, reduce suffering, show care, concern and compassion."

Post by The Singapore Army.

The motorcyclist's arm was pinned under the taxi, and Pte Ong got the help of two passers-by to push the taxi off him.

He cut the rider's shirt and helmet strap so that he could assess the injuries and to allow the motorcyclist to breathe better.

Pte Ong later followed the victim in an ambulance to Changi General Hospital.

The detailed account of his help has since garnered more than 1,000 "likes", and earned him praise from netizens including Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.

Sharing the post on Tuesday, Mr Tan wrote: "Thumbs up, medic!"

Pte Ong's actions were also lauded on the Singapore Army's Facebook page by netizens, including some who claimed to be friends and family of the motorcyclist.

The police have identified the motorcyclist as Chua Joon Yuan, who was in his 30s. They added that Mr Chua was sent to Changi General Hospital where he subsequently died from his injuries.

A 55-year-old taxi driver has been arrested.

Netizen Julia Chua, who claimed to be the motorcyclist's sister, thanked Pte Ong in a post.

Deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Defence and Foreign Affairs Ellen Lee called Pte Ong a "good Samaritan".

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, who chairs the GPC, told The Straits Times that he was glad Pte Ong had "used his skills to help a fellow human being in need".