In a heartbreaking turn of events, a sugarcane juice vendor at Maxwell Food Centre faced a severe accident on the very first day of reopening after managing his brother’s funeral.
Zheng Jingbao, 50, found himself entangled in the sugarcane machine he was cleaning, resulting in the loss of his middle and index fingers, with the pinkie finger facing amputation due to a bacterial infection, according to Shin Min Daily News.
Night of the incident
The incident unfolded on the night of November 23 at around 10 p.m. at Maxwell Food Centre. Zheng is currently hospitalized at the Singapore General Hospital, grappling with both physical and emotional distress.
Zheng shared that the stall was originally managed by his mother, but his brother took over in 2000. Following his brother’s recent death from lung cancer, Zheng had taken charge of the stall, which included the responsibility of cleaning the sugarcane machine – a task previously handled by his late brother.
Attempting to resume normal operations a week after his brother’s funeral, Zheng faced the unfortunate accident while preparing to close the stall and clean the sugarcane machine.
Hand got caught in the machine
The machine was still running when he attempted to clean the bottom roller, and his left hand got caught unexpectedly.
The sugarcane machine continued to operate, and it was only when a customer at the stall noticed the distressing scene that Zheng became aware of the severity of the situation.
With his left hand trapped in the machine, he immediately called for assistance, prompting a nearby customer to dial emergency services for help.
Zheng, unaware of the extent of his injuries, described feeling a numbness in his left hand until he was rescued from the machine. Only then did he experience intense pain.
Witnessing the incident, a nearby beverage stall owner, 70-year-old Madam Zhang, recounted rushing to offer help when Zheng’s relatives sought assistance. Initially thinking it was a minor issue, she expressed shock upon realizing the severity of the situation.
Our thoughts are with Zheng Jingbao as he undergoes medical treatment, and the community hopes for his swift recovery.