Woman dies after being trapped under fallen tree at Marsiling Park

SINGAPORE: A lady was killed on Thursday (Feb 18) after she was trapped below a fallen tree at Marsiling Park.

The police stated they obtained a name for help at about 8.15am and located the 38-year-old lady “lying motionless” on the scene.   Commercial Commercial

The Singapore Civil Defence Drive (SCDF), who was additionally alerted on the identical time, discovered an individual trapped below a fallen tree upon arriving at 20 Woodlands Centre Street. 

SCDF officers used “cutting equipment” to extricate the trapped individual, who was then pronounced useless on the scene by an SCDF paramedic.

Also Read: emergency tree removal in Rancho Cucamonga

The police are investigating the unnatural loss of life. Commercial Commercial

When CNA visited the location on Thursday afternoon, the fallen tree had not been eliminated and a part of it was nonetheless submerged within the pond. The paths resulting in the location have been additionally cordoned off. 

Uniformed officers and panorama employees have been seen inspecting the fallen tree.

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A 15-year-old eyewitness, Kayden Teo, stated he was on a close-by bridge within the morning when he heard “a very loud splash”.

He stated he turned to see a fallen tree within the water that was about the identical peak as among the tallest timber within the park.

A passer-by then started calling for assist, stated the teenager, which is when he observed a lady in train garments trapped below the tree. 

One other eyewitness, 17-year-old Damien Chua, stated 10 to fifteen individuals tried to raise the tree, breaking off its branches in an try and make it lighter.

However they might not raise it excessive sufficient to drag the lady from below it, he stated. “She was still conscious when I saw her ... She was gasping for air,” stated Damien.

Passers-by have been then requested to depart the scene when emergency personnel arrived, added Kayden.

In a press release, the Nationwide Parks Board (NParks) stated it's investigating the reason for the tree fall.

The 20m-tall Araucaria excelsatree was final inspected in April 2020 and located to be wholesome, it added.

"We are sad that there was one fatality," stated NParks. "Our priority now is to accord assistance to the family of the deceased."

In a Fb put up on Thursday, MP Zaqy Mohamad (PAP-Marsiling-Yew Tee) stated that whereas investigations are ongoing, he has requested NParks to test and assessment the situations of the timber and the protection of the services within the space. 

"As a user of the park too, it is important that we do our utmost to ensure safety of all users of Marsiling Park," he stated. 

Mr Zaqy stated he was "truly saddened by this unfortunate accident". 

"Our hearts and deepest sympathies are with the family, a resident of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC," he stated, including that he would work with MP Hany Soh (PAP-Marsiling-Yew Tee) to offer any assist and help wanted by the household.

The lady, recognized as Ms Loke Xiao Li Dag, was a Mediacorp worker.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, Loke Xiao Li, Dag. We have reached out to her family to offer our condolences and support," stated Mediacorp in a press release. 

A senior technical coordinator at CNA studio, Ms Loke has labored for Mediacorp for nearly six years.

"She was someone that many of her team-mates and colleagues looked up to," the corporate stated. "We are also providing support to our staff who are affected by this tragic loss."

BOTANIC GARDENS INCIDENT

In February 2017, a lady was killed by a falling tree on the Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

Ms Radhika Angara, her husband Mr Jerome Rouch-Sirech and their then-11-month-old twins have been attending a public live performance on the gardens when the incident occurred.

Ms Angara, 38, was pinned down by the tree and later died in hospital, with a subsequent coroner's inquiry ruling that her loss of life was a tragic misadventure.

Her husband has sued NParks for damages. In paperwork seen by CNA, Mr Rouch-Sirech claims that NParks' negligence led to the collapse of the Tembusu tree.