Med student & 2 docs in Orchard hotel restaurant save chef who suffered cardiac arrest on CNY eve

A chef in his 60s working at TungLok Signatures in Orchard Rendezvous Hotel collapsed while working on Chinese New Year's Eve.

His heart had stopped at one point, but he was fortunately rescued by two doctors who happened to be at the restaurant for their family's reunion dinner.

Medical student offered help when he saw chef on the floor

Xiao (transliteration), a 49-year-old lawyer, told Lianhe Zaobao he was at the restaurant with his family of 12 when his nephew, a final-year medical student, noticed a commotion when he went to the toilet at around 10pm.

He saw a chef collapsed on the ground, his face pale, while his colleagues surrounded him to help.

Xiao's nephew immediately checked on the chef and realised he might have an asthma attack.

He then tried helping the chef with an inhaler.

When that failed to help, he swiftly alerted his father and another uncle — both doctors — who were dining at the same table.

Two doctors took turns doing CPR for around 30 minutes

However, the chef went into cardiac arrest soon after the two doctors arrived.

They took turns performing CPR for around half an hour while waiting for the emergency personnel to arrive.

Upon arrival, Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedics administered medication to relax his airways and continued with CPR.

Fortunately, the chef regained consciousness even before entering the ambulance, and his condition steadily improved.

The restaurant manager confirmed that the chef had since been discharged and is in fine condition.

Xiao said it was the first time they had a reunion dinner at the restaurant — an evening they had never expected to take such a dramatic turn.

As a gesture of appreciation, the restaurant offered them a special discount on their meal.

Top image via Lianhe Zaobao