7 migrant workers awarded SCDF Community Lifesaver Award for saving woman from Tanjong Katong sinkhole

Seven migrant workers who rescued a woman from the Tanjong Katong sinkhole were presented with the Community Lifesaver Award by the Singapore Civil Defence Force on Aug. 6.

The presentation ceremony was held together with an appreciation lunch for the workers held by the Marine Parade Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC).

Bravery and good work

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development, Goh Pei Ming, attended the event and expressed his gratitude to the workers for their courage and contributions.

He commended them not only for their bravery during the rescue but also for their hard work in the days that followed, helping to restore the damaged road.

According to the workers interviewed by Mothership, repairs were completed within about a week through teams of two working 12-hour shifts.

The workers also received goodie bags from corporate sponsor Singtel and enjoyed a lunch as part of the appreciation event.

Representatives from national water agency PUB, Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and more were also present at the ceremony.

One year of free data

The seven workers involved in the rescue were gifted one year of mobile connectivity by Singtel, which includes unlimited 5G+ enhanced data, up to 1,000 international direct dial (IDD) minutes, 3,000 local minutes monthly, and goodie bags containing daily essentials.

Site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah shared that the seven of them worked together to pull the woman to safety and redirect traffic to prevent further accidents at the sinkhole site.

During a doorstop interview, he expressed his gratitude for the support shown by Singaporeans, adding that he hopes to continue working in Singapore to support his family.

He also shared that his family was overjoyed by the news of his bravery and proud of his actions.

Marine Crescent carpark fire

Goh also presented the commander of Paya Lebar Fire Station with a letter of appreciation for their efforts in putting out a fire at a carpark at 35A Marine Crescent on Jul. 24.

Three cars had caught fire and damaged other cars nearby as well.

Tanjong Katong sinkhole

When the sinkhole opened on Jul. 26 at about 5pm, site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah heard the noise and rushed over.

He saw the car had plunged into the hole, and the woman had managed to escape the vehicle.

He and several other migrant workers tossed down a nylon rope and managed to pull the woman up.

The migrant worker, who has worked in Singapore for 22 years, said it was the first time he had experienced something like this.

"Scared, but must rescue her out," he said of his effort.

In a Jul. 28 Facebook post, Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash shared that he presented an "MOM Appreciation Coin" to Subbiah and six other migrant workers for their heroic efforts.

Dinesh called the coins "a small token of appreciation that goes a long way in appreciating our efforts for our migrant brothers".

The workers also President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Aug. 3 at the Istana and were each given a pen bearing the Presidential crest as a memento and keepsake for them to remember their visit.

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Top photo by Khine Zin Htet/Mothership