A 49-year-old delivery man, Chua Lee Koon, witnessed an elderly man in his 70s standing on the 10th-floor ledge of Block 109 Yishun Ring Road at around 12:20 pm on Sep. 5. Chua immediately shouted for the man to get down and alerted the police when the elderly man did not respond. In a desperate attempt to get help, Chua also yelled, “Someone is about to jump off the block!”
Background
The incident quickly drew the attention of Saride Venkata Kasi Viswanadh, a 37-year-old resident working from home. Venkata Kasi rushed out of his unit and, upon seeing the elderly man on the ledge, sprinted to Block 109. With the elevator out of service, he climbed 10 flights of stairs to reach the 10th floor, where he attempted to calm and persuade the elderly man to move to safety.
Resident rushed over to help
Venkata Kasi’s swift response was crucial. He found the elderly man visibly distressed, with a pale face and tears streaming down. The man appeared extremely depressed and seemed to have many unspoken thoughts. At one point, the elderly man reached out to Venkata Kasi, asking to be pulled back. However, Venkata Kasi hesitated, fearing he might not be strong enough to do so safely. Instead, he reassured the man that the police would arrive soon and continued to comfort him.
Elderly man successfully rescued
When the police arrived, both Chua and Venkata Kasi assisted the officers in safely rescuing the elderly man from the ledge. Reflecting on the incident, Venkata Kasi expressed that he couldn’t stand idly by in such an urgent situation. “This happened right before our eyes. If we have the ability to save him but choose not to, we will definitely feel extremely guilty,” he said.
Men received Public Spiritedness Award
For their heroic actions, Chua and Venkata Kasi were honoured with the Public Spiritedness Award by the Woodlands Police Division on Sep. 18. Assistant Commissioner of Police Ang Eng Seng praised their efforts, stating, “Both Chua and Venkata Kasi played an important role in the rescue effort, and their selflessness and public-spiritedness are commendable. Their actions are an example of how members of the public can step forward to assist the police.” He added, “We hope that their act will serve to inspire others to keep the community safe.”
Helplines
If you or someone you know is in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call for help, advice, or just a listening ear:
- SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767
- Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
- Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222 (24 hours)
- Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 (for primary school-aged children)
- SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001-01-4616 | WhatsApp: 65714400 (for targets of online harms)
