SINGAPORE - An elderly man who collapsed at an Ang Mo Kio hawker centre on Sunday (Sept 6) has died in hospital.

This despite Dr Koh Poh Koon, a People's Action Party (PAP) candidate contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him when he was found lying on the ground.

Dr Koh was making his rounds at the Ang Mo Kio Central Market & Food Centre at about 8am on Sunday when the man, who was in his 70s, suddenly collapsed.

The colorectal surgeon immediately performed CPR on the man as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman confirmed that the man - who was not named - was later conveyed unconscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH).

A KTPH spokesman said in the night that the man died about two hours later at the hospital's Acute and Emergency (A&E) department.

"The man's next-of-kin has been informed and our hospital's staff have been counselling the family," said KTPH.

Dr Koh is part of a six-member team helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC in the Sept 11 polls.

He declined to be interviewed and would only say: "We should not politicise this. Let's give the family the privacy to grieve."

Earlier in the day, a photograph of the politician administering CPR on the man made its rounds on social media.

The photograph, posted by "Lee Junior", was shared more than 1,100 times as at 8pm, with many netizens thanking Dr Koh for stepping in.