Police officers get on ledge to rescue woman in distress on Hougang overhead bridge

A group of seven police officers saved a woman who was in distress and on the edge of an overhead bridge in Hougang.

The police, on Aug. 12, recounted the incident, which occurred on Dec. 23, 2024.

Obstacles

When the police dispatch received multiple calls about the woman that morning, officers from the Hougang and Serangoon Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) rushed to the scene.

Sergeant Linus Lim, a ground response force (GRF) officer with three years of frontline experience, arrived first.

He saw a young woman leaning forward on the overhead bridge, looking at the moving traffic nearly 5m down.

"Each time she moved closer to the edge, my heart sank," Lim recalled.

The officers tried repeatedly to speak to her to build rapport, but she would not respond.

The narrow ledge of the bridge made it difficult for the officers to reach the woman.

However, the biggest obstacle was a large advertisement board that hung between them and the woman.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Benjamin Cheah said he had "never encountered anything like this" in his 15 years as a GRF officer.

Two Serangoon NPC officers took charge of diverting traffic under the bridge and clearing a path for an emergency vehicle.

Teamwork

An idea came from Seargent Muhammad Saifuddin Bin Hamdam, who noticed that the gaps between the bridge railings were rather big — big enough for him to fit his arms through.

The officers took their positions around the woman.

Once she moved backwards slightly, they moved.

Two officers reached out and gripped one of her wrists each, while another two leapt onto the ledge.

"There was no hesitation or fear — I was focused on the woman and my [team leader's] safety", said Sergeant Muhammad Nuh Irfan Bin Hairuddin, who climbed the ledge.

Despite the precarious position and the struggle from the woman, the officers held on tight.

Fortunately, officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) had arrived by then.

Cheah instructed them to cut a hole in the banner to pull the woman through.

They worked quickly to do so, and the officers managed to carry the woman to safety.

Cheah and Irfan were later recognised for their bravery with the Commissioner of Police’s High Commendation Award.

However, Cheah credited the entire team for the success of the rescue.

"Each officer knew their role and executed it perfectly," he said.

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