About 170 people from seven schools and corporations turned up at the popular rowing site - all with life vests on.

Mr Aaron Ang, 25, captain of the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) crew, made sure his teammates tightened the straps on their vests. 'Sometimes during training, they may loosen them because it's hot,' he said.

Mr Ang's concern was underlined by the fact that the Cambodian accident claimed one of their own, Mr Jeremy Goh, 24.

Mr Tan Eng Choon, 38, vice-captain of the Hewlett-Packard team, said members have become far more aware of safety. 'When we see a boat approaching, we will shout out to the whole team to alert them to it,' he said.

Safety aside, the loss of the five national sportsmen in the freak accident in Phnom Penh just over a week ago was palpable at Kallang.

Many paddlers were reluctant to talk to The Sunday Times about the accident but the tragedy was clearly on everyone's mind.

Mr Tan said his team members were talking about it during their rest time on the boat.

Returning to Kallang for their first training session after the accident was a 'tough decision' for the SIM crew, who are still mourning the loss of their school friend and teammate, Mr Goh.

'But it beats staying at home and thinking about it,' Mr Ang said.

However, eight of the 56 team members have pulled out of the Penang Pesta race at the Teluk Bahang Dam this week.

Mr Ang also called race organisers to get 'reassurance on the safety precautions', even though the SIM team has participated in the event before.

Every member has to get parental consent. In the past, only those under 21 were required to do so.

The Sunday Times understands that a team from Nanyang Technological University has totally withdrawn from the event. They are still mourning two of their paddlers, Mr Stephen Loh and Mr Poh Boon San.

The feeling among paddlers who spoke to The Sunday Times was that they wanted to move on.

SIM vice-captain Eugene Wong, 23, said: 'Life goes on. We don't want to dwell on this. Jeremy won't want to see us like this.'

jamieee@sph.com.sg