SINGAPORE - A 29-year-old man was dramatically rescued from his precarious seat on an exterior ledge of a Simei HDB block, reported Shin Min Daily News on Thursday (May 25).

The man had climbed onto the fourth-floor ledge at Block 161, Simei Road, at around 10am on Wednesday morning in an alcohol-fuelled stupor after quarreling with his girlfriend.

An eyewitness, known only as Mr Luo, told reporters present that he called the police after he saw the man sitting on the ledge. Mr Luo was in his home in the opposite block.

The ledge was reportedly less than 20cm wide.

The Shin Min Daily News report added that the Singapore Police Force had cordoned off an area spanning about two basketball fields.

After the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) reached the scene, the man seemed highly agitated and even stood up on the ledge.

He also refused to extend his arms to be pulled to safety.

An SCDF spokesman told The Straits Times that it was alerted to a rescue incident at the block at 12.20pm.

A safety life air pack was deployed at the foot of the block as a safety measure upon the SCDF's arrival.

A team of rappellers from the SCDF's Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team was also deployed along with a rescue net from the roof of the block to pull the man to safety.

The man was later apprehended by the Police, added the SCDF spokesman.

An SPF spokesman told ST that the police were alerted to a case of attempted suicide at the block at 12.18pm and a 29-year-old man was arrested in relation to the incident.

Police investigations are ongoing.