SCDF Conducts High-Risk Operation to Save Woman Lying on Ledge of AMK HDB Flat

As we all know, open windows and ledges can be dangerous in an HDB flat. Many of us were probably chided by our parents when we would lean out of one, as the fall could possibly be life-threatening.

Thankfully, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was ready to spring into action when a woman was found lying on the ledge of an Ang Mo Kio HDB block yesterday evening (26 Mar).

Lying Face Up on a Ledge of a Second Floor Unit

At around 5:20pm yesterday (26 March), the SCDF received a call for assistance at Blk 447 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10.

The woman was lying precariously outside the kitchen window of the unit on a narrow ledge.

The firefighters from Ang Mo Kio Fire Station deployed a ladder to reach the ledge. SCDF’s Emergency Medical Service (EMS) crew also assessed her condition.

She was found to have sustained injuries on her head, arms and legs.

The elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) were also roped in on the operation. Firefighters and rescuers carefully secured her onto a stretcher and used a hoisting system to lift her from the ledge to the ground.

The complicated operation required the officers to work across three levels of the HDB flat. They also had to adeptly manoeuvre themselves across the narrow ledge, in addition to lifting the woman off of it.

She was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in an SCDF ambulance.

Read SCDF’s full Facebook post here:

Woman Fell into Large Canal

Falling down is pretty normal, but finding yourself on a ledge or in a canal is pretty unusual.

But this probably is a normal occurrence to the SCDF.

Earlier this month, a woman fell into a large canal at Bukit Panjang. She was found lying face down and had sustained injuries to her head, hips and legs.

Firefighters from Bukit Timah Fire Station arrived at the scene and deployed a ladder to climb into the large canal. Firefighters and rescuers from the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) then proceeded to carefully secure the woman onto a stretcher and rescued her safely out of the canal with a hoisting system.

She was later taken to the National University Hospital.

The woman’s husband, Mr Chen noted that she had been feeling unwell and attributed her fall to her mental health.

“The doctor later told me that my wife thought someone was chasing her. When she turned to run away, she fell into the canal.”

The two had last spoken on that morning when he met her at the void deck and told her to eat the breakfast he had prepared. He was not aware of her whereabouts till 7:00pm that evening when he was alerted to what had happened.

Madam Hu has since received surgery for her injuries.

Featured Image: Facebook (Singapore Civil Defence Force)