FAMILY, schoolmates and teachers bid farewell to 12-year-old Tee Yan Chyuan on Thursday in a touching scene at Mandai Crematorium. Some wept, others held hands and all whispered their last goodbyes.
The Secondary 1 student from Raffles Institution (RI) died suddenly after a game of badminton on Sunday.
Even though they knew him for barely a week, teachers and schoolmates from RI took time off school to turn up for Yan Chyuan's funeral. Some were also his classmates from primary school and remembered his cheerful disposition.
'I will miss his dimples and his infectious smile,' said Gauis Ong, 12, Yan Chyuan's classmate of three years. 'He was a really great friend.'
Yan Chyuan was St Hilda's Primary School's top PSLE student last year. With an aggregate of 284, Yan Chyuan was ranked fourth in the national results.
His family said 'it was always his dream to go to RI'.
When his sister entered Raffles Girls' School four years ago, Yan Chyuan was inspired to follow in her footsteps and attend RI. He worked extremely hard, staying back in class during recess to complete his homework.
When he finally got into RI, Yan Chyuan was 'in very high spirits', said his mother, Madam Tan Guat Eng, 47.
Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
