List of Singapore NSmen who died in training

National service is a form of compulsory conscription in Singapore. Male citizens and second generation permanent residents are required to undergo a two-year stint to serve full-time in either the SAF, SCDF or the SPF.

Due to training safety regulations, training deaths are rare, but do occur from time to time. Below is a list of reported deaths resulted from training incidents:

1990s

  • 9 March 1997 - Third Sergeant (3SG) Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal (LCP) Low Yin Tit were killed when a 155mm artillery round exploded in the barrel of a FH-2000 howitzer during a live-firing exercise conducted by the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery of at the artillery range of Waiouru Army Camp, New Zealand. 12 other servicemen were injured in the incident, including a liaison officer from the New Zealand Army. The explosion was caused by a defective fuze supplied by the Chartered Ammunition Industries which failed to ensure that the fuzes procured by its contractor met military specifications.[1]

2000s

  • 15 May 2002 - Lance-Corporal (LCP) (NS) Mohd Shahlan bin Abdul Rahim collapsed while taking his Individual Physical Proficiency Test at Clementi Camp. He died later that night at National University Hospital.[2]
  • 21 August 2003 - Second Sergeant (2SG) Hu Enhuai of the Singapore Guards died from asphyxia and near drowning during a POW survival training course. Four commando officers conducting the training were jailed for carrying out inappropriate "dunking" procedure that led to his death.[3]
  • 15 May 2008 - TSC Roslan Bin Saharo Collapsed shortly after commencing a trial Individual Physical Proficiency Test conducted at the Home Team Academy on 13 May 2008. He was reported to have been unwell before the run, and died in hospital two days later due to complications caused by heat stroke. Further enquiry found that he has failed to report that he had a fever, and insisted on continuing the run despite concerns from squad-mates
  • 10 June 2008 - Recruit (REC) Andrew Cheah Wei Siong fainted during a 2 km training walk as part of the enhanced basic military training for obese recruits on Pulau Tekong. He was evacuated by helicopter to Singapore General Hospital and was pronounced dead.[4]
  • 1 October 2008 - PTE Foo Wei Rong Joe, 20, collapsed in Lim Chu Kang Camp while doing pull-ups. He was later evacuated to Tengah Medical Centre, where the doctors tried to resuscitate him. He subsequently sent to National University Hospital while the medical doctor and medic continued their resuscitation attempt en route. He was later pronounced dead.[5][6]

2010s

  • 2 August 2011 - Specialist Cadet Trainee (SCT) Ee Chun Sheng, 21, found unconscious during navigation training at Ama Keng Training Area at Lim Chu Kang. Cause of death due to a heart defect. [7]
  • 17 April 2012 - Private (PTE) Dominique Sarron Lee Rui Feng, 21, died after experiencing breathing difficulties due to an allergic reaction to smoke grenades used during training at Lim Chu Kang.[8]
  • 10 May 2012 - Third Sergeant (3SG) Tan Mou Sheng, 20, was pronounced dead at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital after he was involved in a training accident earlier in the day at the Marsiling training area. Tan was found pinned and unconscious under the jeep he was in after the driver, 3SG Cavin Tan, lost control of the vehicle.[9]
  • 12 August 2012 - Lance Corporal (LCP) Muhammad Fahrurrazi Bin Salim, 20, went missing during a jungle training exercise in the Sungai Batu Apoi river, Temburong, Brunei. He was the coxswain in a convoy of four boats meant to support water crossing segment of the exercise. His body was found three days later, 200 metres from his last known position.[10]
  • 15 September 2017 - Third Sergeant (3SG) Chan Hiang Cheng Gavin, 21, a Vehicle Commander from 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment, was involved in a vehicular incident at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia at around 18:15 (Singapore time). Chan's Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle toppled sideways while he was guiding it out of difficult terrain.[11] Chan was heli-evacuated to Rockhampton Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at around 22:36 (Singapore time).[12]
  • 30 April 2018 - Corporal First Class (CFC) Lee Han Xuan Dave, 19, a Guardsman from the 1st Battalion Singapore Guards, was found to display signs of heat injury at about 0835hrs on 18 Apr 2018 after he had just completed an 8km fast march at Bedok Camp. Lee was evacuated to the camp's medical centre and subsequently transferred to Changi General Hospital, where he was warded in the Intensive Care Unit. Lee's condition worsened during the hospitalisation and he was pronounced dead at 1732hrs on 30 Apr 2018.[13]
  • 13 May 2018 - Corporal (CPL) Kok Yuen Chin, a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Full-Time National Serviceman from Tuas View Fire Station, was found unconscious at the bottom of the fire station’s pump well. CPL Kok had been celebrating his impending ORD with his squad mates, and one of the activities involved throwing him into the pump well. CPL Kok did not resurface. CPL Kok was eventually pulled out from the well after the water had been drained. CPL Kok was then conveyed by ambulance to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. CPL Kok was pronounced dead at the hospital.[14][15]

References

  1. "THE 155MM GUN HOWITZER CHAMBER EXPLOSION ON 9 MAR 97 IN NEW …" (PDF). www.nas.gov.sg. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  2. "DEATH OF A NATIONAL SERVICEMAN" (PDF). www.nas.gov.sg. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  3. Cheong, Yvonne (8 June 2004). "4 SAF commandos charged over death of NSman". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. "Recruit dies after walk". 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. "Soldier dies while doing chin ups". www.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-29. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  6. "2008Sep30-News-Releases-02493". www.mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  7. "Checks 'could not have detected NSF's heart defect' - Tan Tock Seng Hospital". www.ttsh.com.sg. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
  8. "SAF suspends training with smoke grenades". asiaone.com. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  9. Choo, Deborah (11 May 2012). "SAF suspends all field training after latest NSF death". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  10. "Body of missing NSF in Brunei found". sg.news.yahoo.com. 12 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  11. "NSF death: Armoured vehicle lands on side while getting out of difficult terrain, says MINDEF". Channel NewsAsia. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  12. "Singapore Army officer dies in armoured vehicle crash on Queensland coast". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  13. "Death of a Singapore Armed Forces Full-time National Serviceman". www.mindef.gov.sg (Press release). 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  14. "SCDF NSF dies after falling into fire station pump well during "ORD celebration", 2 arrested - Stomp". Stomp. 2018-05-14. Archived from the original on 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  15. hermesauto (2018-05-14). "SCDF NSF dies after ORD celebrations go wrong; two SCDF regular personnel arrested". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
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