In pouring rain, friends and family bid farewell to NSF firefighter at ceremonial funeral

SINGAPORE — More than 100 Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers flanked the long driveway to Mandai Crematorium on Tuesday (Dec 13) in an emotional send-off for Edward H Go, the full-time national serviceman (NSF) who died after a firefighting operation at a Henderson Road flat.

In spite of the large crowd of people who turned up to pay their final respects to the 19-year-old, a sombre silence hung over the crematorium, until the Singapore Police Force Band played a tune that signalled the start of the ceremonial procession.

And as if on cue, rain started to pour as the hearse carrying Go turned into the driveway of the crematorium at around 1pm.

Just hours before the funeral, the serviceman — who was described as “an inspiration” by SCDF's Commissioner Eric Yap in a tribute speech — was posthumously promoted from the rank of Corporal to to Sergeant (1).

The state flag was draped over his coffin, which was then transferred to a carriage towed by a Red Rhino at the crematorium. Also known as a light fire attack vehicle, the Red Rhino was adorned with a black cloth. 

An officer sat in the passenger seat of the Red Rhino, hugging a photo of the fallen firefighter who SCDF said last Friday is their first colleague to die during a firefighting operation. 

Trailing behind the Red Rhino on foot were 21 of the young serviceman's colleagues from the Central Fire Station, where he was based.

Some in the escort party were regular officers and NSFs who had responded to the fire at Block 91 Henderson Road with Go.

A few served as his pallbearers carrying the coffin into the hall where the private funeral service was held.

At about 1.20pm, the cortege entered the hall, followed by family members and friends of the youth.

Wreaths were laid by senior SCDF officers, and SCDF's Commissioner Eric Yap then presented the state flag to the serviceman's parents, Mr Daniel Go and Mrs Helen Go.

The Last Post bugle call, typically used in ceremonies to mark the end of the day, was sounded to signify the end of Go's duty to the nation.

Then, attendees were asked to observe a minute of silence to honour his memory.

This was followed by a religious service and eulogies by family and friends. The media were not permitted to view the proceedings within the hall.

After the cremation was completed, family and friends could be seen choking back tears as they left the hall. 

A MOMENT OF SILENCE

In a statement on Tuesday, SCDF said that Go trained as a firefighter at the Civil Defence Academy from Feb 3 to April 28 this year. 

His performance during his training at the academy was among the top 25 per cent of his cohort, it added.

He then served at the 1st SCDF Division, which is based at the Central Fire Station, after his graduation. He had responded to more than 20 fire and rescue incidents during his time there.

Fire call alarms across Singapore’s 23 fire stations rang in his honour at 8am on Tuesday, where Go was accorded full ceremonial honours and SCDF observed a moment of silence.

The blinkers and sirens of SCDF emergency vehicles were also turned on for 15 seconds after the tribute as a mark of respect.

Go was part of the first response crew to a fire at about 11.10am last Thursday at Block 91 Henderson Road in Bukit Merah.

During the firefighting operation, he fell unconscious in the kitchen area of the two-room public housing unit on the fourth floor of the block. He was carried out of the unit and given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

An SCDF ambulance crew member also used an automated external defibrillator — a device used in cases of cardiac arrest — on him and he was taken to Singapore General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In the last two days, dozens of people had turned up to pay their respects and tributes at his wake at the Trinity Casket Chapel of Light on Sin Ming Drive, including Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development.

Assoc Prof Faishal said on Sunday that a probe into the firefighting operation linked to Go’s death has begun and will be made public in time.

The probe will look at the people involved in the incident, among other things.