SINGAPORE - A 12-year-old boy who helped victims of a car accident, even as other passers-by snapped photos, received a Public Spiritedness Award from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Thursday (June 2).

The boy, Ashvin Gunagegaran, was on the way home from school with his classmates on Tuesday (May 31) when he saw a car accident occur at the junction of Yishun Ring Road and Yishun Avenue 2.

He rushed to help one of the victims - a pregnant woman - out of her car after he saw that bystanders were busy snapping photos, even as his friends feared for his safety.

"I was very surprised to receive this award," said Ashvin, adding that at the time of the accident, "it felt like the normal thing to do".

The award also astonished his mother, Ms Swares Helen Louisa, 50, who said she has been teaching him kindness from a young age.

"I was very excited, and very proud. He's still young, but has done a great thing," she said.