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An elderly man, 72, who was living alone, died in his house in Boon Keng area.

His body was discovered on Nov. 17 before 10am after a stench emitted from the HDB flat amidst the belongings he hoarded and a neighbour called the police.

Shin Min Daily News was tipped off to the story by multiple sources, the Chinese newspaper reported.

Those who called the media did so after the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force personnel showed up and cordoned off the area outside the deceased man's unit in Block 105 Towner Road.

Hoarder

A reporter at the scene witnessed that the deceased man's house strewn with items he had hoarded, including paper, plastics, wooden items, and sundry possessions.

Shin Min reported that whenever the door of the unit was ajar, a rancid smell was detected.

Those at the scene clearing out the unit burned incense along the corridor to mask the stench.

Lived alone for years

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the elderly man lived alone and behaved strangely and did not communicate with neighbours.

The neighbour said they were the residents who moved into the block in the 1980s and remember seeing the man with his wife and children many years ago, but they have since left.

The neighbour also claimed that the man had hoarded a lot of items in his flat, which was cleaned out once before after mediation by the authorities.

The elderly man also smelled bad each time the neighbour saw him, the Chinese newspaper reported.

The elderly man was seen by the neighbour's niece the past week, each time she dropped by to deliver food.

Police investigating

The police confirmed that a report of an unnatural death was received and a 72-year-old man was declared dead at the scene.

According to the preliminary investigation, the police have ruled out foul play, and the investigations are ongoing.

All photos via Shin Min Daily News

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