Man, 71, found dead alone in Choa Chu Kang flat after neighbours notice food deliveries uncollected for days

A 71-year-old man was found dead in his unit in Block 570 Choa Chu Kang Street 52 on Sep. 3.

Neighbours had called the police after noticing takeout containers hanging uncollected outside the unit for days, and smelling a foul odour, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Shin Min's reporters could still smell the odour along the corridor hours after the police arrived at the scene.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at the location at 1:10pm that day.

The man was found motionless in the unit and was pronounced dead at scene.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

Police investigations are still ongoing.

Lived alone and rarely went out

According to a neighbour's helper, the deceased lived alone and rarely left his house due to his large size.

He would often order food to be delivered for all three meals, and get essentials delivered from supermarkets as well.

"He always shut his front door. I had not seen him for a few months," the helper said. "Sometimes I would notice takeout hung at the door, but not long after, he would open the door to collect them."

On Sep. 1, she saw takeout hung there again, but this time, it was not collected even after days.

Over the next two days, neighbours started noticing a foul odour. They grew concerned that something had happened to the elderly man, and decided to call the police.

"[My employer] and I would often sit outside our unit to cool off," the helper told Shin Min. "These two days when a gust of wind came, we would smell the odour. We never imagined it was because Uncle had passed away."