On the first day of a wake for a full-time national serviceman (NSF) who died fighting a flat fire on Henderson Road, dozens of mourners gathered to pay their respects and offer their condolences.
Thursday (Dec. 8) during the firefighting operation, NSF Corporal Edward H. Go collapsed and died in the hospital. Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, stated on Sunday that an inquiry into the incident is ongoing.
On Sunday, Sin Ming Drive was packed with mourners, including Associate Professor Faishal and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.
Associate Professor Faishal sent his condolences and appreciation for CPL Go's contributions to his family.
He stated, "We are saddened by the loss of CPL Edward, who died in the line of duty while supporting, protecting, and saving lives and property."
"MHA and SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) are saddened by the loss of one of our finest firefighters. We will never forget CPL Edward's courage, bravery, and service to our nation "he added.
Dr Balakrishnan said: "He has made the ultimate sacrifice to serve his country.
"We shall await the conclusion of the investigations. It must be done carefully, thoroughly, and totally... In the meanwhile, I'm certain that every parent mourns their loss terribly."
The funeral of NSF fireman Corporal Edward H. Go is held on December 11, 2022.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) announced on Thursday that CPL Go was the first firefighter to die during an operation.
Thursday at 11:10 a.m., he was a member of the first response crew to a fire at Block 91 Henderson Road.
During the firefighting operation, he lost consciousness in the kitchen area and was removed from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) unit and provided CPR.
A member of the SCDF ambulance crew used an automated external defibrillator on him before transporting him to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead.
With his family's agreement, a ceremonial funeral will be arranged to honour CPL Go.
On Sunday, Assoc Prof Faishal said: "We do very thorough investigations for any incidents that we come across.
"We are currently conducting investigations; we have begun to examine both the incident location and the individuals involved. We will notify the family and the general public after the investigation is concluded."
He noted that national servicemen and operationally ready national servicemen, in addition to regulars, play a vital role in maintaining Singapore's security.
"We owe a debt of appreciation to all the national servicemen for putting their lives in risk and sacrificing their time, with the full support of their families, so that we may continue to build our nation and live in safety and security," he continued.
Saturday, the SCDF reported that a preliminary examination revealed that the fire likely originated from an electrical source in the bedroom.
The fire was contained to a two-room apartment on the fourth level of the building.
Friday's announcement from the SCDF included information on CPL Go's training previous to the event. He enrolled with SCDF on January 5 to perform his National Service and began his 12-week firefighting training on February 3. After finishing his training on April 28 and his firefighter course on May 4, the NSF was assigned to the Central Fire Station.
Prior to recruitment, CPL Go was deemed medically fit and met Physical Employment Standards' (PES) A, according to SCDF. According to the Central Manpower Base website, PES A and PES B1 personnel are qualified for operational frontline positions.
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