Singaporean actress Kimberly Chia found herself in an ambulance after a routine morning activity went terribly wrong.
The 29-year-old was hospitalised on 17 Jul 2025 following a sudden back injury that occurred while brushing her teeth.
On 18 Jul, Chia surprised fans with an Instagram reel showing herself being wheeled into the hospital on a stretcher.
She admitted feeling embarrassed about the circumstances, asking “how do I tell people I ended up in the hospital because I was brushing my teeth?!”
Gag Reflex Triggers Sharp Back Pain and Emergency Response
Chia had been experiencing mild, persistent back pain for some time but had chosen to ignore it.
On Thursday morning, 17 Jul, Chia was brushing her tongue before work when a sudden gag reflex made her jerk forward. “And that was when I felt something ‘snap’. It was a SHARP pain that made me see stars,” she wrote in her Instagram post.
The actress described feeling “blacked out but still conscious” from the intensity of the pain. She immediately called out for her husband, who helped her lie down.
Unable to sit up or move due to the excruciating pain, the couple decided to call an ambulance. “I was crying and I couldn’t move. Tried to get up but it hurt so badly,” Chia said.
This marked the first time in her life that she rode in an ambulance and the first time being carried out of her own home on a stretcher. Despite the embarrassment, she decided to document the experience.
Hospital Stay Reveals Muscle Strain After X-Ray Results Come Back Clear
At the hospital, Chia underwent an X-ray scan, which showed no abnormalities. Doctors ruled out a slipped disc and believed her condition was likely a muscle strain or pull.
“I was given some pretty heavy painkillers but my pain score didn’t drop. [I] couldn’t move, couldn’t sit up,” she shared. Due to her inability to move and the persistent pain despite medication, she was hospitalised overnight for observation.
After her discharge, Chia revealed in an interview with Shin Min Daily News that while she could walk, she still could not bend or make large movements. “Turning my body has to be done slowly. I can’t drive either because stepping on the pedals affects my back,” she explained.
The actress is currently undergoing physiotherapy as part of her recovery journey and will see an orthopaedic specialist to confirm the extent of her injury.
On 21 Jul, Chia posted on her Instagram stories that she was “so much better now” and would be returning to work the following day.
Chia explained that she originally recorded the video to send to her husband, who had to rush off to work after helping her into the ambulance.
However, she later decided to share it publicly after being surprised by the number of people who responded with their own experiences of similar injuries, ranging from muscle spasms to nerve compression.
She posted the Instagram reel as a reminder for everyone to be cautious, writing: “This is a sign to take care of your backs people.”
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