5 off-duty M'sian healthcare staff working in S'pore save elderly man who collapsed near JB customs

While returning home from Singapore to Johor Bahru on Aug. 9, five patient care associates (PCAs) from Parkway East Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital sprang into action when they saw that a man had collapsed.

The group immediately responded, administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and calling for an ambulance.

Their efforts paid off as the man regained a pulse and was later taken to a hospital in Johor Bahru.

Swift action

Shareen Kaur Ranjit Singh, 29, a PCA from Parkway East Hospital, told Mothership that she and two colleagues, Veenoshini Sandrasagaran and Subhashini Subramaniam, had just entered Johor Bahru and were waiting for a ride outside customs when they heard a woman shouting.

They turned around and saw a man collapsed on the ground.

Without hesitation, they rushed to help.

The man, estimated to be in his 70s, was foaming at the mouth and had a faint pulse, Ranjit Singh said.

When he stopped breathing, the team began administering CPR.

Ranjit Singh began chest compressions, while Sandrasagaran monitored his pulse.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam called for an ambulance and attempted to gather medical history from the man’s companion, a Vietnamese woman.

As the woman didn’t speak English, they used Google Translate to communicate.

Subramaniam eventually located the man’s bag and discovered his medication, which indicated he had diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

United to save man

Two other PCAs, Nanthiine GudialKumaran and Hemadewi Balakrishnan from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, also noticed the commotion and joined the rescue efforts.

Together, the five took turns performing CPR.

GudialKumaran noted that while paramedics from Johor Bahru Customs’ emergency response team arrived with basic equipment, they lacked an automated external defibrillator (AED).

As a result, the PCAs continued chest compressions without stopping.

Although they had never met before, the five PCAs were united in their mission to save the man’s life.

"I broke down emotionally for a moment when uncle’s pulse kept dropping and stopped breathing and my colleagues took over," Sandrasagaran recalled.

Despite the emotional toll, they pressed on and the man’s pulse eventually returned.

"I felt so relieved and happy when his pulse came back. Many thoughts ran through my mind but the only thing I want is don't give up on the uncle," Sandrasagaran added.

The entire effort lasted about 30 minutes before the ambulance arrived and took the man to the hospital.

A reminder of their calling

Subramaniam shared that the incident reaffirmed her passion for healthcare.

"It was a moment of realising that I made a difference, even if just a small one. It reminded me how important it is to stay alert and ready to help when needed," she said.

GudialKumaran added, "That moment showed the true spirit of nursing: our duty doesn’t end when our shift does."

All five are PCAs, healthcare workers who support nurses with day-to-day patient care.

Ranjit Singh noted that this was the first time any of them had to apply their CPR training in a real-life emergency outside of work, and their instincts kicked in immediately.

GudialKumaran also expressed hope that more people will learn CPR and first aid so that they can help those in need.

Balakrishnan echoed the sentiment, emphasising the importance of being prepared:

"Learning basic first aid and CPR can save lives, and you don’t need to be a healthcare worker to make a difference."

Video of rescue went viral

@paulwecareweshare♬ original sound - paulwecareweshare

A video of the incident, posted by TikTok user @paulwecareweshare, went viral on Aug. 10.

It showed the five women working alongside staff from the customs emergency response team, performing CPR to save the man’s life.

The CEOs of both hospitals, Ivan Khor of Parkway East Hospital and Sherrie Lim of Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, commended their staff in a joint statement:

“We are incredibly proud of our five Patient Care Associates for their quick thinking and skill that saved a life while on their way home from work. Their actions exemplify the values we uphold at Parkway East Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. They demonstrated how compassion and commitment to care is not based on a uniform we wear, but a selfless calling we live by, on or off duty.”

Top photos from paulwecareweshare/TikTok