Woman killed by falling tree was kind, once tried to save an injured squirrel: Colleagues

SINGAPORE — She got on her motorcycle at the end of her shift but Dag Loke was not heading to her home in Woodlands that night. She had found an injured squirrel and she was taking it to a clinic in Upper Serangoon.

"It was midnight… That's the kind of person she was," said Ms Dawn Tan, 54, a Mediacorp news presenter, as she recounted the incident.

It was Ms Tan who had referred Loke to her veterinarian friend. Loke then swiftly tucked the squirrel in her jacket and rode to the clinic to try to save its life.

Loke’s kindness and compassionate nature was what came through in the anecdotes her colleagues shared with TODAY.

Loke died on Thursday (Feb 18) after a tree fell on her at Marsiling Park.

The 38-year-old was a senior technical coordinator at news channel CNA's studio and had worked at Mediacorp for almost six years.

When Covid-19 struck and Mediacorp started work-from-home arrangements, Loke played a key role in helping the presenters set up their studios at home.

"It was not an ordinary situation at all, we have never done home studios before. It was a learning process,” Ms Tan said. “Dag was there every night supporting me and Steve (Lai) on the communications."

Outside the studio, she had an adventurous streak, going on dirt bike trails in Malaysia and durian gatherings.

Ms Rachel Yeo, 27, remembered how when she first joined Mediacorp as a producer in 2018, Loke was always there whenever she needed help.

"Anyone can be a really good worker, but not everyone is a great colleague, who is people-centred and genuinely caring," said Ms Yeo, who is now a presenter.

"She always had time for everyone, a very kind and easygoing person. I'm glad I got to meet her."

For her supervisor, Ms Nadia Natasha, Loke was a no-nonsense bike enthusiast who could always be relied on on work matters.

For instance, on Monday Loke stayed past her work hours to make sure things would run smoothly for the Singapore Budget 2021 show on Tuesday.

Ms Nadia, 29, said that they had been talking about Loke's career aspirations on Tuesday, two days before the tragedy.

On Wednesday, the night before she died, Loke shared her aspirations with some friends during a farewell dinner for studio director Mageswaran Nethagi, who is now serving his notice with Mediacorp.

"She spoke a lot that day, telling us about her career plans," Mr Mageswaran, 35, said.

"Little did we know that the farewell wasn't for me."