Bukit Merah flat fire: Couple who died were engaged, attempted to save 1 of 11 pet cats before perishing

The couple, who died in the Bukit Merah flat fire that broke out on Aug. 13, were engaged and set to get married in a year.

They were also cat lovers who owned 11 cats, and attempted to save at least one of them before perishing.

Turning his life around

According to Shin Min Daily News, the 34-year-old male victim, known only as Faizal, worked as a bouncer at a bar.

A close acquaintance told reporters that he had been released from prison for assault only about a month ago, and was preparing to start his life anew with his fiancee, aged 32.

Faizal was also known to friends by his nickname "Bear" and had previously worked as a food deliveryman, the acquaintance added.

The couple's landlord, who was Faizal's employer, told Shin Min that he had temporarily rented the two-room flat out to the couple two weeks before the fire broke out as he knew they did not have a place to stay.

The landlord moved out to live with his father during this period.

Cat lovers

According to neighbours and friends of the couple, the pair lived with 11 cats.

After the fire broke out, the woman who eventually perished had placed one of the cats on a window sill as a last resort attempt to save it.

Another resident of the block reportedly saw one of the cats escape from the house by running towards the staircase.

One cat was eventually rescued, while two died in the fire alongside the couple, neighbours said.

Mothership has reached out to SCDF to find out about the fate of the remaining cats.

Shouted for help for 6 minutes

In videos of the incident that have been circulating on the internet, both victims could be seen standing and cowering with each other by the kitchen window of the fourth floor unit while shouting for help.

@mothershipsg

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that they responded to a fire at Block 106 Jalan Bukit Merah at around 4pm, Aug. 13. Upon arrival, the living room and bedroom of a fourth-floor unit were on fire, and the fire was extinguished with a water jet, SCDF said. Police told Mothership that the 34-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were conveyed unconscious to the hospital, and subsequently passed away. SCDF also conveyed two other persons from neighbouring units to the hospital. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said SCDF. Police said that based on preliminary investigations, they do not suspect foul play. Video from micky_poh/Tiktok

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The woman also stuck her arms out of the kitchen's window grills, and repeatedly yelled, "Help! The heat is unbearable!"

At one point in the video, an explosion could be heard coming from within the house and smoke engulfed the unit.

The woman's cries for help gradually subsided as her arms disappeared from the window grills.

Residents attempted to save couple

About seven people, including residents and cleaners who were at the coffee shop at the foot of the block, attempted to save the couple when the fire broke out, Shin Min reported.

As the metal gates were locked, they were unable to break in and enter the unit, despite using the fire extinguisher to break the lock at one point.

SCDF said by the time they arrived at the scene, both persons were found unconscious in the kitchen.

They were carried out of the unit on stretchers, during which neighbours reported seeing extensive burns on their bodies.

They were taken to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where they later succumbed to their injuries.

Two other persons from neighbouring units were also transported to the hospital, and about 60 persons were evacuated from the affected block.

Shin Min reported that at least 12 police cars, two firetrucks, four SCDF vehicles and one ambulance were present at the scene.

The SCDF later said that the cause of the fire was likely a personal mobility device (PMD) battery pack.

The victims' neighbours said they had witnessed a person handing a PMD battery pack to Faizal days before the fire.

A personal mobility device was also seen within the unit, another neighbour said.

Investigations are still ongoing.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News