Pedestrian dies from injuries 5 days after getting hit by bicycle

SINGAPORE — A pedestrian who was hit by a bicycle died in hospital on Sunday (Oct 6), five days after suffering a head injury that left him on life support.

Chew Fook Yew, 53, was knocked down by a cyclist at the junction of Sims Avenue and Geylang Lorong 33 on Oct 1 at around 6.20pm.

The youngest of five siblings was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was found to have sustained a severe head injury that needed immediate surgery.

The emergency operation, which lasted more than three hours, was unable to save him: He slipped into a coma before he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, his family said.

Police said that the cyclist, a 41-year-old man, has been arrested for causing grievous hurt by negligent act. Investigations are ongoing.

Described as a “good buddy and filial son” by friends and family, Mr Chew, who worked as a freelancer in sales, was the main caregiver of his 88-year-old mother and would cook her meals and ensure she took her medication.

A family member recounted how Mr Chew’s second sister found out about her brother’s accident after she stumbled onto the scene of the incident by chance.

Ms Chew was driving to her mother’s house in Geylang East on Oct 1 to have dinner with her, as she usually does every day, Mr Chew’s nephew told CNA.

When she drove past the intersection of Sims Avenue and Geylang Lorong 33, she saw an ambulance parked along the road with paramedics attending to an injured person on a stretcher.

She and her husband noticed that the person was wearing a familiar orange shirt that Mr Chew sometimes wore. Fearing the worst, she called her mother’s house and found out her youngest brother was not there.

Ms Chew then got out of the car and confirmed that her brother was hit. Though he had no visible injury apart from a few bruises, Mr Chew did not respond to his sister calling his name.

Ms Chew then accompanied him in the ambulance as he was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and informed her family members.

'TRAUMATIC FIVE DAYS'

Initially, "nobody thought too much of it", Mr Chew’s nephew, who gave his name as just Melvin, said. He added that family members did not think that the accident would be too serious.

But they got increasingly worried over his non-responsiveness and a head scan at the hospital later revealed that he had suffered a life-threatening head injury.

Mr Chew went for an operation at about 7.30pm, but at about 11pm, doctors said that he could not be saved, Melvin said. He remained on life support for the next five days before his death on Sunday at around 10.35pm.

"It was a traumatic and difficult five days," his nephew said. 

"The family couldn't sleep, we were just waiting (for his death)," he said, adding that family members would visit Mr Chew each day not knowing if it would be his last.

During that period, his family was touched that Mr Chew’s friends, some of them as far back from his early childhood, visited him — with some visiting just an hour before his death.

“We sang songs for him at his bedside, as he enjoyed singing and music, and during his last moments. His friends also said a prayer for him," Melvin said.

Mr Chew’s siblings are now taking turns looking after their mother in his absence, who described losing her filial son "like losing my hand".

His wake is being held at Block 130, Geylang East Ave 1, before his funeral at Mandai Crematorium on Wednesday morning. CNA

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