Boy, 13, gets foot pierced by screw-like nozzle while playing at Sengkang void deck

A 13-year-old boy was playing at the void deck of an HDB block when he accidentally stepped on a protruding object, which pierced his foot and resulted in a hospital visit.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the boy's mother, Tan, said that her son was playing with a ball at the void deck of Block 172B Sengkang East Drive.

He then stepped on a screw-like object.

In the photo Tan showed Shin Min, the object was about three centimetres long and embedded in the concrete floor.

Deep cut

Other family members immediately took the boy to a nearby clinic.

However, the doctor was unable to properly assess the injury as the wound was deep.

Tan then called an ambulance and sent her son to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for further examination.

While an X-ray showed no fractures, the teenager has been put on antibiotics to prevent a potential infection.

Tan told Shin Min that she was heartbroken over the whole incident and sent in her feedback to her Town Council that very night.

Other residents apparently also informed her that similar objects were spotted in other parts of the estate.

"I don't want the same thing to happen to other children. If a child accidentally trips and hits their eye on it, the consequences would be unthinkable," Tan said.

The next day, Tan noted that the object her son had stepped on had been removed by noon, adding that the Town Council had visited in the morning.

When Shin Min visited the area, the object was gone and the ground had been patched with cement.

Nozzle used for waterproofing works

A spokesperson for Sengkang Town Council told the Chinese media that the object the boy stepped on was a grouting nozzle.

They are also aware of the incident and have been in touch with the family to offer assistance.

The Town Council added that, upon receiving the report, they immediately inspected the site and surrounding areas, where they discovered several additional grouting nozzles in other blocks.

The affected areas were then cordoned off as a precaution.

These nozzles were used for waterproofing works, but the spokesperson said that they had reviewed their records and confirmed they had not carried out such work at the location.

They have since reported the matter to HDB, and are working with the main contractor to remove the remaining nozzles and patch up affected areas.

When Shin Min reached out to HDB, it said that no protruding nozzles were found during the estate's inspection and handover process.

After the estate's completion in August 2023, HDB said that it had progressively handed over the project's common areas to Sengkang Town Council for management and maintenance.

The specific spot where the incident occurred was handed over in early 2024.

During the handover inspection, no nozzles were found, and HDB added that it has not carried out any further works in the area since.