The unfortunate demise of a Police Coast Guard (PCG) trainer, who fell into the water and was struck by the propeller of a safety craft, was the result of multiple safety lapses, according to Coroner Christopher Goh in his report dated June 21, who ruled his death an unfortunate misadventure.
Mr Ong Siang Thai, the supervisor of a dive training session held at the PCG headquarters in Brani Base, encountered a tragic incident on July 20, 2022, around 11 am. He was in the process of preparing the safety craft and loading diving equipment onto it while the trainees were getting ready with their dive gear nearby.
During this time, Mr Ong’s colleague, Mr Melvin Tan, observed him in a half-squat position as he started the engine of the safety craft. The coroner acknowledged that this position compromised balance compared to sitting, but it was ultimately the responsibility of the person steering the boat.
At a certain point, the engine was over-revved, causing the craft to jerk. As a result, Mr Ong lost his balance and fell backwards into the water, as witnessed by Mr Tan. The CCTV footage also confirmed that the craft collided with a pontoon wall and circled back towards Mr Ong. He was seen swimming towards the approaching craft, which tragically ran over him.
Hearing the engine revving loudly and Mr Tan’s cry for help, the trainees quickly responded and found Mr Ong in the safety craft with a body floating nearby. Several officers jumped into the water and discovered Mr Ong trapped by the boat’s propeller. They used a knife, which was found on Mr Ong, to free him. Although he was still breathing, he had suffered multiple wounds on his body.
The officers brought Mr Ong to the hangar after retrieving him from the water. A medic, who happened to be undergoing a different course nearby, attempted to revive him. Mr Ong had deep cuts extending from his mouth to his neck, along with numerous cuts on his chest.
Around 11:30 am, the police were informed, and an ambulance from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived shortly afterwards. Unfortunately, Mr Ong had already stopped breathing, and there was no detectable pulse. His skin felt cool to the touch. The SCDF paramedic pronounced him dead at approximately 11:45 am.
An autopsy conducted the following day revealed that Mr Ong’s cause of death was haemorrhage from the chest and facial injuries, compounded by drowning.
Coroner Goh emphasized Mr Ong’s extensive diving experience, having served in the Singapore Armed Forces and the Naval Diving Unit throughout his career. At the time of the incident, Mr Ong was employed by Citadelle, a consultancy services and training firm responsible for providing dive training to PCG trainees.
The coroner clarified that foul play was not suspected in Mr Ong’s death, and investigations by both the police and the Ministry of Manpower concluded that several safety oversights likely contributed to the incident.
One such oversight was Mr Ong’s failure to attach a kill cord to himself. These cords are designed to deactivate a boat’s engine when the pilot becomes separated from the vessel, as advised by boating websites.
Coroner Goh agreed with the findings of the investigating agencies. He emphasized that the danger of not using the kill cord was particularly pronounced in enclosed spaces, where there was a higher likelihood of the craft colliding with a person in the water. Additionally, he noted that Mr Ong was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.