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‘She’s like family. Everywhere in this house reminds me of her’: Employer on maid who died saving her child

SINGAPORE — She has been working as a domestic helper for the household for only three months but to her employer, Jaspreet Kaur is just like a family member.

A sign appealing for witnesses is seen at the spot where foreign domestic worker Jaspreet Kaur, who was pushing a two-year-old boy in a stroller, died after an accident.

A sign appealing for witnesses is seen at the spot where foreign domestic worker Jaspreet Kaur, who was pushing a two-year-old boy in a stroller, died after an accident.

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SINGAPORE — She has been working as a domestic helper for the household for only three months but to her employer, Jaspreet Kaur is just like a family member.

The employer and helper bonded over a common love for cooking vegetarian food. The employer’s son is attached to Kaur, too, as she would take him to the playground, read him books and dance with him.

Until tragedy struck on Tuesday (Nov 5) — Kaur, 29, was pushing the employer's son in a stroller when they met with an accident on Lentor Avenue. She managed to push the two-year-old to safety but could not escape getting hit herself, media reports said.

When TODAY met Kaur’s employer in their apartment at Bullion Park condominium on Friday, the mood at their home was sombre.

“I haven’t been able to sleep since that day,” the employer, an Indian national who declined to be named, said. “Everywhere I go in this house reminds me of her.”

Her son has scrape wounds on his forehead, right cheek and nose.

Looking at him as he played by himself by the window in the living room, the 30-year-old analyst said: “He’s been asking about her since the accident. I don’t know what to say to him.”

She was at home that morning when Kaur took the toddler and left the house. She recalled that they looked excited but she declined to say where Kaur and her child were going.

So when the police knocked on her door, she knew something was off.

Still shaken by the incident, she said: “When the police told me that she was gone, my first thought was my son could be gone, too.

“It was heartbreaking.”

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Kaur comes from the state of Punjab in India. The single mother leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter, who lives with Kaur’s two younger brothers and ageing mother.

Her employer said that her husband has done most of the talking to Kaur's family because she “didn’t have the heart to”.

Neighbours at the condo who knew Kaur have come forward to offer condolences and money, but she has not accepted them yet.

“People have been very generous, but we want the money to reach good hands so we are still making arrangements.

“We hope that with this contribution, we can give her daughter the life she wanted.”

Taking a deep breath, she said that no words can explain her gratitude to Kaur for her service and saving her son’s life.

Acknowledging that she might have to hire another domestic helper soon, she said that the family is still grieving from the traumatic experience and her in-laws would be taking care of their son when they return to work.

Kaur’s body has been flown back to India on Friday evening.

In a Facebook post on Thursday (Nov 7), the Centre for Domestic Employees said that it has reached out to Kaur’s employer to offer assistance.

“We will also be contacting the deceased’s family to extend any support and help they require. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased's family,” the post read.

Related topics

accident death toddler foreign domestic worker Lentor Avenue

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