Heng Swee Keat visits family of victim killed by fallen basketball hoop structure in Bedok

Investigations are ongoing.

Zhangxin Zheng | July 27, 2021, 08:18 PM

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A 17-year-old teenager succumbed to his injuries after a basketball hoop structure near Block 18 Bedok South Road fell on him on Monday night.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is also a Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC, visited the victim's family and offered his condolences on Tuesday morning.

He also visited the basketball court where the unfortunate incident happened.

Heng said that the East Coast team is giving the family their "fullest support" and the town council's general manager has briefed him on how the inspection will be carried out at sports and recreational structures in East Coast.

Further updates will be provided in due course. Here's the full post:

Well-liked and helpful person

Speaking to Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao, the victim's family described him as someone who was well-liked, helpful and easy-going.

He was also nominated as the model student when he was in secondary four. Wanbao also reported that over 20 friends went to send the victim off after learning about his death.

The first year student at ITE College Central was playing basketball with five other friends, in groups of two, that evening.

While others were resting by the side, they suddenly heard a loud thud and found the structure fallen on the ground.

The victim was unconscious and blood was oozing out from his head, a friend at scene described.

The Chinese paper's reporter observed that the basketball structure did not appear rusty and looked relatively new.

Investigations are ongoing.

Top image via Heng Swee Keat's Facebook