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A Singaporean pastor, who fell critically ill during a mission trip to South Korea and was brought back to Singapore, has passed away.

He was 60.

According to Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min), Loh Peng Hong passed away on Feb. 10, at around 12:15am.

Contracted Covid-19 in South Korea

Loh, a pastor for 15 years, contracted Covid-19 during his mission trip to South Korea and tested positive on Oct. 17, 2022.

He was admitted to Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital's emergency room for "short of breathing and mental change".

Loh was hospitalised in South Korea for three months as he fought for his life.

He was put on life support ventilation, but "his condition deteriorated further".

The doctors at the hospital also put him on both an artificial lung machine (ECMO) and a ventilator.

His family was advised to bring him back to Singapore to continue his long-term recovery.

To help raise the money to bring Loh back to Singapore to continue his care, Loh's family turned to crowdfunding to raise S$440,000 to cover all the costs.

The family started a Give.asia campaign and managed to hit its goal, raising S$448,480.

Returned to Singapore on Jan. 14, 2023

On Jan. 14, 2023, Loh was transported back to Singapore after arrangements were made to secure him a bed in an Intensive Care Unit ward with an ECMO.

In an Instagram post, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Communications and Information Tan Kiat How shared the "Herculean" effort to transport Loh back to Singapore.

A medical evacuation team left Singapore for Seoul on Jan. 13 and evacuated Loh on the morning of Jan. 14 on a Hawker 800 medical plane.

Loh was admitted to Singapore General Hospital ICU under the care of senior doctors.

Family by his side when his time came

Shin Min reported that Loh was in a state of coma, and he also contracted viral infections several times while he was hospitalised.

His organs failed and his condition deteriorated prior to his passing.

Loh's sister shared with a Shin Min reporter at his wake that Loh passed away in the hospital with his family by his side. She said that everyone felt mournful.

After Loh was successfully brought back from South Korea, the doctor told the family that they had tried their best and they initially believed Loh could be saved after returning to Singapore.

Through tears, Loh's sister shared that even though her brother did not survive his illness, she saw how many people her brother helped as hundreds came to pay their respects at his wake.

Loh's sister expressed gratitude to everyone who donated money or helped with the evacuation. She was especially grateful to the medical team that looked after Loh.

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Top photos via Give.asia