ONLY ONE THOUGHT: 'I completely forgot how tired I was. I just knew that I had to get her to safety.' - HARRY CHNG YEW HOCK, on Samantha -- ST PHOTO: DOMINIC WONG |
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RETIREE Harry Chng Yew Hock is in his condo pool for the first of his thrice-daily swims at 6am.
But last Friday, an impromptu decision to do this at 8.30am instead made a life-and-death difference to two 13-year-old girls who might have drowned if not for his being there.
The 67-year-old was the only one in the pool at Siglap condominium Fernwood Towers doing his laps when three girls, who had sneaked out of their unit earlier on, came to wade in the shallow end of the pool.
After 15 minutes, the two older girls, aged 13, changed into their swimsuits to venture towards the 3m-deep end of the pool.
Mr Chng paid them little heed.
Then he heard cries of 'Uncle, help!' from the youngest of the three girls. She was the only one who had not gone towards the deep end.
Seeing the two 13-year-olds flailing their arms, Mr Chng said he had only one thought on his mind - to save them.
The former shipyard dockmaster, who also used to be a referee appointed by the International Swimming Federation, swam over and dragged the first girl to safety. She was winded, but was able to fend for herself once out of deep water.
Her cousin Samantha Lee of Pei Hwa Secondary School did not fare as well. By the time Mr Chng went back for her, she was lying face-down at the bottom of the pool.
Mr Chng said: 'I completely forgot how tired I was. I just knew that I had to get her to safety.'
Using a life-saving pole and a lifebuoy he found at the poolside, he managed to bring the 1.67m-tall girl to the surface before pulling her out of the water.
He said: 'By then, her face was already blue. I was so afraid she would not survive.'
Assistance from passers-by came freely: the condo's cleaner helped him to get Samantha out of the water and massaged her legs, which had turned purple; a doctor who lived in a unit overlooking the pool turned up to check her pulse and waited with her till the ambulance arrived.
Samantha, who spent two days in the intensive care unit of Changi General Hospital, was moved to a regular ward yesterday.
Her 47-year-old aunt, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Tan, said she was grateful to Mr Chng and all who had helped the girls.
She also had this to say to parents who allowed their children to swim unsupervised: 'Never take the risk. Always be around to watch over them.'
tansle@sph.com.sg
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