A wheelchair user knocked down by a truck on his way to the factory where he lived has died in hospital.
Mr Lim Chin Huat, 44, had just bought lunch when he was hit crossing Sungei Kadut Street 6 around noon on April 27. He was taken conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he died on Monday. He is believed to have suffered head injuries.
His brother, 43-year-old Lim Chin Hwee, said yesterday that Mr Lim had been single, suffered from diabetes and kidney failure, and had dialysis three times a week. He said Mr Lim had lived in a factory run by a relative so as not to be a burden to the family.
The brother, a storekeeper, said in Mandarin: "We thought he was all right, but he slipped into a coma about a week after the accident and was transferred to the intensive care unit. Later, he was in a vegetative state. I believe the accident worsened his other health problems.
"The family is very down now. We lost our father to diabetes and heart failure in February. It is very hard to accept that our brother is also gone now. The trailer driver should have been more careful."
Mr Lim had his left leg amputated several years ago because of his diabetes, and had since then used a wheelchair. He was the eldest of four boys. Their mother died in 1997. His death certificate recorded the cause of death as cardiorespiratory failure, but this was "pending further investigations".
Mr Lim's body was cremated yesterday. His funeral was paid for by undertaker Roland Tay, founder of Direct Funeral Services.
Police are investigating the incident.
