'I'd do it for anyone', says taxi driver, 55, who fetched man, 50, from JB to Changi General Hospital emergency department

The taxi driver, who drove a man in extreme pain from Johor Bahru to Singapore's Changi General Hospital on Jan. 14, was surprised to hear about the passenger's gratitude for his actions.

"It was nothing," the driver, Ng Ching Boon, told Mothership repeatedly in Mandarin.

After picking up Alexxus, a 50-year-old who lived alone, Ng not only made the one-hour trip calmly, he even got out at the hospital and helped his distressed passenger all the way to the emergency department.

Alexxus, who was later diagnosed with osteoarthritis, was moved by the acts of kindness.

With help from the National Taxi Association and Ng's company, Strides Premier, the passenger will be meeting the taxi driver again on Feb. 6 to express his thanks.

A passenger in pain

Mothership got in touch with Ng via the National Taxi Association.

The 55-year-old Singaporean taxi driver said he would often provide cross-border rides between Johor Bahru and Singapore.

He recalled noticing Alexxus in great pain when he was picked up at Larkin Taxi Terminal sometime between 9pm and 10pm.

He was struggling as he walked and got into the taxi, Ng said.

Ng tried to ask if something had happened to his leg, but Alexxus did not reply, and barely spoke throughout the ride.

Given also that he was heading to a hospital's emergency department, Ng surmised that he needed to get there urgently.

"Don't worry, I will try for you," he told Alexxus.

Noticing Alexxus grimacing whenever they went over a road bump, Ng took care to drive carefully.

Ng did not know why Alexxus chose to take the long journey to Changi General Hospital, but guessed that he might have family living nearby, or have medical records there from previous visits.

Even though this time of the day was usually a peak hour period, the traffic was fortunately light that Wednesday, and they made it there in about an hour.

'Not a big deal'

On why he decided to help Alexxus at the hospital, Ng was quick to downplay what he did, saying it was not a big deal.

"He couldn't even walk," Ng said. "I got a wheelchair and he sat down, then I just pushed him inside [the emergency department]. It didn't take more than one to two minutes."

There were no security guards or staff outside the hospital at the time, so he parked his car at the drop-off point, and got out to help Alexxus himself.

"[Alexxus] said I saved his life, like I did something great and admirable," Ng added. "But actually what I did was just that."

As he had similarly assisted elderly passengers at hospitals before, to Ng, it was a very instinctive thing to do.

"No need to say it like I was very heroic. I would do it for anyone," he added.

He wondered if maybe Alexxus was grateful because his life would have been in danger if he had arrived 10 or 20 minutes later.

"I'll ask him on Feb. 6," he said.

Top images from Strides Premier's Facebook and Canva