First-aid instructor Billy Lim was walking home one night when he received an alert from the MyResponder app on his phone of a case of cardiac arrest nearby.
It was close to 10pm on Nov 21 last year when the 32-year-old ran to Hong Kah North Community Centre in Bukit Batok to lend his assistance.
"When I arrived, I saw some people doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the man. An AED (automated external defibrillator) was already attached to him," said Mr Lim.
Five other men were already on the scene to help. Mr Lim took over the CPR when one of them grew tired. "Performing CPR is tiring... You have to rest in between and someone else takes over," he said.
While waiting for the ambulance, the group used the AED to deliver three shocks to the man, believed to be in his 50s, and managed to save his life. The man was then taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital by the ambulance.
Mr Lim is among the volunteers who are alerted to reports of people with cardiac arrest near them by the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) MyResponder app.
The six men who helped that night were given the Community Lifesaver and Community First Responder Award.
Five of them, including Mr Lim, attended a ceremony yesterday, where they received the award from Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources and Health, and MP for Hong Kah North.
The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the 4th SCDF Division in Bukit Batok.
One of the awardees was Mr Danny Ng, 42, who chairs the Hong Kah North Community Emergency and Engagement Committee. He was alerted to the incident that night after a grassroots meeting.
Mr Ng, director of a recycling company, said they performed CPR on the man after they realised that he was not breathing.
"We weren't scared; we just wanted to save a life. We must have spent about 10 to 15 minutes performing CPR, but it felt a lot longer," he said.
After administering three shocks via the AED, the man started vomiting.
"We suddenly heard the sound of him gasping for air and we hugged one another," Mr Ng added.
Said Mr Lim: "I always imagine that it's my loved one who is in trouble. And you would do your best to help a loved one."
He added: "Nothing can be more fulfilling and meaningful than saving a life."
