A day out at Sentosa nearly turned tragic after a man who could not swim ended up in deep water at Palawan Beach and had to be rescued by his friends.
Shin Min Daily News reported The incident happened on the evening of Jul. 31, when the man was at the beach with five friends. Although he was pulled to safety, he reportedly suffered lung damage after inhaling a large amount of seawater and was taken to hospital for treatment.
His friend, identified by Chinese media as 25-year-old Mou Hao (transliterated), said the group initially believed everyone was safely on shore before noticing the non-swimmer struggling in deeper water, with only part of his head visible above the surface.
Friend Jumped Into The Sea Without Hesitation
Mou Hao said he immediately dived into the water to rescue his friend without thinking.
However, the rescue quickly became dangerous as the panicked man clung tightly to him, causing both of them to sink beneath the surface several times.
He reportedly swallowed seawater repeatedly during the struggle and feared they would both drown.
According to Mou Hao, it was only after his friend lost consciousness and stopped struggling that he managed to drag him back towards the shore, where the rest of their group helped pull him onto the beach.
Victim Vomited Blood Before Regaining Consciousness
After being brought ashore, the man was reportedly in a critical condition.
Witnesses said his abdomen appeared swollen, he vomited blood and his breathing was extremely weak.
Mou Hao immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rescue breaths while waiting for help to arrive.
Beach staff later provided the man with oxygen, and he gradually regained consciousness, although he remained disoriented.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed it received a call for assistance along Tanjong Beach Walk at about 6:45pm on Jul. 31 and conveyed one person to Singapore General Hospital.
Doctor Found Water In His Lungs
According to Mou Hao, doctors later told them that an X-ray showed a significant amount of water had entered his friend’s lungs.
The water caused damage to the lungs, which resulted in the victim coughing up blood.
Reflecting on the terrifying experience, Mou Hao said he finally broke down in tears while calling his mother from the hospital, admitting he genuinely believed he was going to die during the rescue.
Lifeguard Warns Against Rushing Into Water
A lifeguard with around 30 years of experience told Chinese media that rescuing a drowning person can be extremely dangerous, particularly in open water.
He explained that people in distress often instinctively grab onto rescuers, which can pull both people underwater.
The lifeguard advised members of the public to first assess whether they can safely carry out a rescue. Instead of entering the water immediately, they should call for help and use flotation devices such as lifebuoys whenever possible, as sea conditions, currents and changing weather can make rescues far more hazardous than those in swimming pools.