List of military training deaths in Singapore
Appearance
Singapore maintains an active conscription system in accordance with the regulations set by the Government of Singapore, known as National Service (NS).[1] This requires all qualified male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents to serve a period of active duty military service in the uniformed services, in either the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) or the Singapore Police Force (SPF).[2] Below is a list of reported deaths that resulted from training incidents.
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Service-related deaths in Singapore
National serviceman | Date | Age | Incident | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|
Recruit (REC) Allen Tan Chong Huat | 24 October 1968 | 19 | Fatally stung by hornets.[3] | Chua Chu Kang, Singapore |
Second Lieutenant (2LT) Tay Seow Kai | 26 August 1970 | 21 | 2LT Tay grabbed a grenade from a recruit who fumbled while handling the grenade during a live exercise. The grenade detonated in his hand, killing him and causing minor injuries for 2 others.[4] | Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute, Singapore |
Private (PTE) Edward Rengasamy | 29 August 1981 | 18 | Soldier died after iron piece pierced his throat during SAF Display Rehearsal [5] | West Coast Park, Singapore |
Corporal (CPL) Tamil Selvam s/o Suppiah | 9 October 1982 | 22 | Fatally wounded in a training exercise.[6] | Sembawang, Singapore |
Private (PTE) Tham Wai Keong | 23 May 1983 | 18 | Tham was found dead a day after he had gone missing from a route march.[7] The state coroner reported that the private died from a ruptured stomach, but an open verdict was recorded as a forensic pathologist was unable to exclude the possibility that Tham was hit by the entrenching tool found next to his body.[7][8] | Pulau Tekong, Singapore |
Lieutenant (LTA) Koh Meah Wan | 10 April 1984 | 23 | Died of unspecified "serious injuries" during a training exercise.[9] | Sungei Gedong, Singapore |
Recruit (REC) Sim Keat Kee | 13 April 1984 | 19 | Collapsed during a two-kilometre run.[10] | - |
Recruit (REC) Bak Yow Hock | 18 April 1984 | 17 | Died while undergo training at School of Naval Training.[11] | Sembawang, Singapore |
Private (PTE) Hay Yong Chye | 26 November 1986 | 19 | Buried alive.[12] | Sarimbun Ave, Singapore |
Staff Sergeant (SSG) Goh Kim Loong Corporal (CPL) Ramiya Mohan Lieutenant (LTA) Ng Soon Hup Lieutenant (LTA) Siow Poh Guan Lieutenant (LTA) Wee Tong Leong Captain (CPT) Lakbir Singh |
24 January 1987 | - | Helicopter crash.[13] | Near Brunei International Airport, Brunei |
Private (PTE) Lim Chee Keng | 19 February 1994 | 21 | Collapsed at the end of a 10-kilometre run.[14] | Kranji, Singapore |
Second Lieutenant (2LT) Zulhelmi Mohammad Said | 3 August 1996 | 20 | Struck by lightning while moving his platoon out of a training area due to bad weather.[15][16] | Lim Chu Kang, Singapore |
Officer Cadet Trainee (OCT) Tan Sek Hong | 9 December 1996 | 19 | Tan Choon Ming (OCT), 20, loaded a general purpose machine gun without permission and meddled with its trigger in front of a group of officer cadets trainees. He shot Tan Sek Hong, 19, in the chest. Tan later died of a gun shot wound.[17] | Rest area of the live-firing area of Safti Camp, off Upper Jurong Road |
Third Sergeant (3SG) Ronnie Tan Han Chong Lance Corporal (LCP) Low Yin Tit |
9 March 1997 | - | 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. Twelve 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.[18] | Waiouru Army Camp, New Zealand |
Captain (CPT) Teddy Quah Kok Meng | 11 December 1999 | - | Died after the vehicle he was travelling in crashed into a tree.[19] | Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia |
Second Lieutenant (2LT) Daryl Loh Chuan Rong | 26 February 2001 | - | A Full-Time National Serviceman. Thrown overboard as the Missile Gunboat he was on suddenly accelerated and struck another gunboat.[20] | Changi Naval Base, Singapore |
Corporal (CPL) Kwok Wei Ming | 29 October 2001 | 20 | A Full-Time National Serviceman. Collapsed during a Commando Battalion training and died in camp after being transported to its medical facility.[21] | Hendon Camp, Singapore |
Lance-Corporal (LCP) (NS) Mohd Shahlan bin Abdul Rahim | 15 May 2002 | - | Collapsed while taking his Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), and died in hospital.[22] | Clementi Camp, Singapore |
Recruit (REC) Ivan Ho Yong Hua | 10 Oct 2002 | - | Found unconscious at training ground and died in hospital.[23] | Pulau Tekong, Singapore |
Second Sergeant (2SG) Hu Enhuai | 21 August 2003 | - | Died from asphyxia and near drowning during a POW survival training course. Four commando officers conducting the training were jailed for carrying out an inappropriate "dunking" procedure that led to his death.[24] | Pulau Tekong, Singapore |
First Sergeant (1SG) Shiva s/o Mohan | 13 July 2005 | - | Accident while performing heli-borne rappelling. Also involved one other foreign serviceman.[25] | Sembawang Airbase |
Special Constable Trainee (TSC) Roslan Bin Saharo | 15 May 2008 | - | Collapsed shortly after commencing a trial IPPT 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 failed to report that he had a fever, and insisted on continuing the run despite concerns from squad-mates. | Home Team Academy, Singapore |
Recruit (REC) Andrew Cheah Wei Siong | 10 June 2008 | - | Fainted during a 2 kilometre training walk as part of the enhanced Basic Military Training (BMT) for obese recruits. He was evacuated by helicopter to Singapore General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.[26] | Pulau Tekong, Singapore |
Second-Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Lam Jia Hao Clifton[a] | 12 June 2008 | 20 | Collapsed during a jungle orientation training in Brunei; died in hospital.[28] | Brunei |
Private (PTE) Foo Wei Rong Joe | 1 October 2008 | 20 | Collapsed 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, but was subsequently pronounced dead.[29][30] | Lim Chu Kang Camp, Singapore |
First Warrant Officer (1WO) Tan Poh Eng | 21 May 2009 | 53 | Died in a parachuting accident.[31] | Bloemfountein, South Africa |
2nd Warrant Officer (2WO) Poh Eng Huat | April 2009 | 36 | Found unconscious at 6.05pm in a flight crew room after performing 'tunnel crawl demo of an F-5 Tiger aircraft. He was later sent to the Changi General Hospital where the SAF doctors and medics team continued their attempts to resuscitate him en route to the hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at 7:24pm at the Changi General Hospital. | Paya Lebar Airbase, Singapore |
2nd Lieutenant Nicholas Chan Wei Kit | 3 July 2009 | 23 | Hit backwards by a reversing Land Rover driven by Private Muhammad Abdul Qaiyuum Muhammed Iskander at the garage while 2LT Nicholas was performing engine checks behind the vehicle. | Seletar Camp, Singapore |
Lance Corporal (LCP) Eugin Wee Yong Choon | 28 January 2011 | 20 | Hit by a truck driven by another serviceman while unloading stores.[32][33] | Jurong Camp, Singapore |
Specialist Cadet Trainee (SCT) Ee Chun Sheng | 2 August 2011 | 21 | Found not breathing after separated from his teammates during a training exercise. Due to either "natural disease process" caused by a heart defect or possible heat stroke.[34] | Ama Keng Training Area, Lim Chu Kang, Singapore |
Corporal (CPL) Li Hong Yang | 10 January 2012 | 28 | Collapsed after completing the 2.4 kilometre run in the IPPT.[35] | Kranji Camp, Singapore |
Private (PTE) Dominique Sarron Lee Rui Feng | 17 April 2012 | 21 | Breathing difficulties triggered by an allergic reaction to smoke grenades. COI found out that CPT Najib Hanuk Bin Muhamad Jalal was responsible for throwing 6 smoke grenades (three times more than needed for training). Death could have been prevented if Safety officer CPT (now LTC) Chia Thye Siong had stopped CPT Najib.[36] | Murai Urban Training Facility |
Third Sergeant (3SG) Tan Mou Sheng | 10 May 2012 | 20 | Found pinned to his jeep and unconscious after its driver, 3SG Cavin Tan, lost control of the vehicle.[37] | Marsiling, Singapore |
Lance Corporal (LCP) Muhammad Fahrurrazi Bin Salim | 12 August 2012 | 20 | Went missing during a jungle training exercise. 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.[38] | Sungai Batu Apoi river, Temburong District, Brunei |
Lance-Corporal (LCP) (NS) Tan Tai Seng | 27 September 2012 | 23 | Hit by falling tree while waiting to enter training area.[39] | Ama Keng Training Area, Lim Chu Kang, Singapore |
Third Sergeant (3SG) Chan Hiang Cheng Gavin | 15 September 2017 | 21 | His Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle toppled sideways while he was guiding it out of difficult terrain;[40] he was heli-evacuated to Rockhampton Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.[41] | Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia |
Corporal First Class (CFC) Lee Han Xuan Dave[b] | 30 April 2018 | 19 | Displayed signs of hyperthermia on 18 April after completing an 8 kilometre fast march. Lee was evacuated to the camp's medical centre and subsequently transferred to Changi General Hospital, where he was warded in an intensive care unit, but his condition only worsened.[43] | Bedok Camp, Singapore |
Corporal First Class (CFC) Liu Kai[c] | 3 November 2018 | 22 | Killed in a training accident when a Bionix AFV vehicle reversed into his Land Rover during a training exercise.[45] | Murai Urban Training Facility |
Corporal First Class (CFC) (NS) Aloysius Pang | 24 January 2019 | 28 | Died four days after sustaining severe chest and abdominal injuries when the barrel of a self-propelled Howitzer was lowered while he was repairing it with two other SAF personnel during Exercise Thunder Warrior.[46] | Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand |
Notes
References
- ^ "Enlistment Act (Chapter 93)". Singapore Statutes Online. Archived from the original on 28 November 2015.
- ^ Essential (Incitement Against National Service) Regulations (Cap. 90, Rg 8, 1990 Rev. Ed.), section 2
- ^ Mesenas, Clement (22 January 1969). "Hornet death: 'A need for resident doctor in camps'". The Straits Times. p. 9. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "CO12038 | Making Things Right: Retrospective Honours for Distinguished Act - RSIS". www.rsis.edu.sg. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Soldier died after iron piece pierced his throat". The Straits Times. 7 May 1983. p. 10. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Soldier dies". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020 – via National Library Board.
- ^ a b "Open verdict recorded on NS man found dead". The Straits Times. 13 September 1983. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ Ang, Benson (10 January 2016). "Places in Singapore with a dark past". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ "Soldier dies in training". Singapore Monitor (2nd ed.). 10 April 1984. p. 2. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Committee to probe army recruit's death". The Straits Times. 15 April 1984. p. 8. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Recruit dies in training". The Straits Times. 20 April 1984. p. 11. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ "Soldier buried alive". The Straits Times. 3 April 1987. p. 13. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ Boey, David (17 June 2008). "Taking stock, not letting down its guard". The Straits Times. p. 20.
- ^ "NSF dies after run". The Straits Times. 20 February 1994. p. 24.
- ^ "CO12038 | Making Things Right: Retrospective Honours for Distinguished Act - RSIS". www.rsis.edu.sg. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "NSMan killed by lightning strike". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
- ^ "Training death: NSF admits to rash act, The Straits Times, page 40". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 19 June 1997. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "The 155mm gun wowitzer chamber explosion on 9 Mar 97 in new ..." (PDF). www.nas.gov.sg. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "SAF captain killed when vehicle he was travelling in hit a tree". NAS. 12 December 1999. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Onwards and Upwards: Celebrating 40 years of the Republic of Singapore Navy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "NSF man collapses and dies". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Death of a national serviceman" (PDF). www.nas.gov.sg. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Death of a Full-Time National Serviceman" (PDF). Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Cheong, Yvonne (8 June 2004). "4 SAF commandos charged over death of NSman". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ ""Update on Deaths of Regular Serviceman and Foreign Serviceman." News release" (PDF). Singapore Ministry of Defence. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Recruit dies after walk". 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Ee, Jamie (15 June 2008). "Are the youth of today less rugged?". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "RSAF pilot trainee collapses, dies during training in Brunei". AsiaOne. 12 June 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Soldier dies while doing chin ups". www.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ "2008Sep30-News-Releases-02493". www.mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ "SAF Commando killed during overseas exercise". AsiaOne. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Ng, Julia; Chan, Wayne. "NSF dies in in-camp accident" (PDF). www.smu.edu.sg. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "SAF captain charged over rash act causing NSF's death". The Straits Times. 1 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "NSF who died had heart condition". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Five servicemen who died this year". AsiaOne. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "SAF suspends training with smoke grenades". asiaone.com. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "NSman dies in freak incident during in-camp training". AsiaOne. 27 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Hong, Jose (1 May 2018). "Military funeral for 19-year-old NSF who died after heatstroke". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
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- ^ Tang, Louisa (4 November 2018). "SAF training incident: Friends mourn 'cheerful, hardworking and easygoing' NSF". Today. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Full-time national serviceman dies after accident with Bionix during training". Channel NewsAsia. 3 November 2018.
- ^ "Actor Aloysius Pang succumbs to injuries sustained during military reservist training in New Zealand". Yahoo! Singapore. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.