M'sian working in S'pore, 24, put in medically-induced coma after experiencing multiple seizures

His girlfriend opines that the work-related stress was the cause.

Zi Shan Kow | March 11, 2023, 02:21 PM

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A Malaysian man working in Singapore was put into a medically-induced coma after fainting and seizing multiple times.

Ryan Chong, 24, was working as a management trainee in the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

Poor health

Chong was running a fever on Feb. 11, and tested negative for dengue after a visit to the hospital on Feb. 14.

He fainted on Feb. 17 and had multiple seizures after arriving at the National University Hospital (NUH). Doctors admitted him to the intensive care unit (ICU).

His girlfriend, Vyvyan Lim, believes that work stress and his long working hours affected his physical and mental health.

She shared that there were instances where Chong be unable to walk for two days due to the long periods he had to remain standing while at work.

He also experienced pain in his urinary tract from holding his urine.

Lim said she set up the crowdfunding page to help his mother with hospital bills.

She is unable to use her MediSave to contribute to his bills as they are not married. Lim says they intend to register their marriage in September.

Allegedly faced work-related problems

According to 8world, Lim said she met Chong met in 2021, when he came to Singapore to work.

She shared, "He was a security officer, but started to work at a restaurant because he wanted to apply to be a permanent resident (PR)."

However, he was bullied by his colleagues at his new workplace, and decided to work at another restaurant.

She shared that he faced "tremendous stress" from issues with an "unscrupulous employment agent who gave empty promises". He allegedly was unable to sign an employment contract with his new employer because of problems with the said agent.

Lim revealed that she was not fully briefed on Chong's condition as she is not a family member. However, she understands that he is suffering from an auto-immune disease.

"His immune system is attacking [his body] because he is under too much stress," she averred. "Doctors said they can only try to bring him out of the coma when his brain waves are stable."

Crowdfunds S$93,210

Chong has since been transferred to an ICU in Kuala Lumpur.

Lim said the total hospital bill stands at "around" S$90,000.

At the time of writing, 1,740 people have crowdfunded S$93,210 for his bills.

Top images via Give.Asia