March 18, 2023, 09:57 PM
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A 65-year-old woman was hit by an unsecured sun shade while cycling to work past a local frozen food store.
The impact caused her to lose her balance and fall, and she was later admitted to hospital.
The woman's daughter shared what happened with Mothership via email.
On Mar. 15 at around 5pm, her mother was cycling towards her job at the Jurong Springs Community Centre McDonalds where she works.
She was hit while cycling past the EN Frozen food store in Jurong West.
Unsecured sunshades
According to the woman's daughter, a strong gust of wind blew the large 2m-tall sheet towards the woman, hitting her.
The impact caused her to lose her balance and fall, hitting her head and knee against a wall.
Image via Mothership reader
The store was using the acrylic and cardboard sheets at the extended common area to block the afternoon sun shining on the store's chest freezers.
A picture, taken after the day of the incident, shows a pair of polycarbonate sheets wedged between the retractable awning and the floor of the common area.
Image via Mothership reader
The sheets did not appear to be to the ground, nor to the roof, relying on tension to keep them in place.
After the woman fell, a passerby stopped to help her up, and when staff members of the shop were approached, they gave her the contact number of the shop's owner.
That evening, she went to see a GP, who prescribed painkillers and told her to look out for signs of head injuries, such as vomiting.
Unfortunately, the very next morning, she vomited and complained of giddiness, and was sent to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where she has been admitted.
Risk to elderly passers-by
The woman's daughter said that the sunshades posed a risk to passers-by, especially since the area has a significant population of elderly residents.
She sent pictures of the area taken after the incident, and the nearly two meter tall polycarbonate sheets.
Image via Mothership reader
One also showed a member of staff removing the sheets.
Image via Mothership reader
While it was possible for the shop to compensate her for lost income, or the medical cost incurred, the woman's daughter shared that she is concerned for the irreversible trauma her mother had encountered.
She hopes the relevant authorities could look into the matter, to ensure such an incident would not occur again.
Mothership has reached out to the Jurong-Clementi Town Council, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and En Frozen for more information.
Top image via Mothership reader
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