'S'pore efficiency is real': Woman drops AirPods in Bukit Batok drain, migrant worker retrieves it in 5 mins

A woman dropped one of her AirPods down a drainage grate in Bukit Batok but was reunited with it thanks to a migrant worker who retrieved it within five minutes of his arrival at the scene.

TikTok user @i.tgal_insg, who goes by Angela, posted a video of the incident and thanked the migrant worker, Rony Das, for his swift rescue.

In her caption, she said: "Singapore efficiency is real. One call and it was sorted. Didn't even take five minutes!"

"Huge thanks to brother Rony for saving me S$100."

Called Town Council

Angela said that while she was heading home from work, she got off at a bus stop at Bukit Batok Avenue 1 and was about to put her AirPods back into their case.

She accidentally dropped the left earbud through a drainage grate.

"I was with one of my housemates, and I immediately went into total panic."

The pair were not sure whether they were allowed to lift the grate themselves, but remembered that information was posted in the lift about maintenance and other matters.

According to time stamps provided by Angela, the duo called Jurong-Clementi-Bukit Batok Town Council at 8:36pm, and a staff member assisted them.

"I was really eager to get it back because I was worried that if I left it there for a few days, especially if it rained, the earbud might get flushed away," explained Angela.

Gave him doughnuts as thanks

Shortly after the four-minute-long call ended, the town council staff called back at 8:43pm, saying Rony, a cleaner working nearby, was on his way.

Rony arrived on his bike, leapt into the drain and quickly handed the earbud back to Angela at 8:47pm.

Angela added that she did not have any cash on her, and Rony refused to give her his PayNow information.

As a gesture of gratitude, she gave Rony a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts instead.

Angela noted that the town council staff also called her around 10pm to check if she had retrieved her AirPods.

When asked what prompted her to share the incident on social media, Angela said she was "truly impressed by the response and how quickly everything was handled."

"I wanted to share this because, regardless of who we are or what we do, or what your profession is, a simple act of kindness and appreciation can mean so much. Kindness is free; let’s keep spreading it."