A toddler was found wandering alone on a road near Punggol Coast Mall after a driver noticed the young child walking into a potentially dangerous area and immediately stepped in to help.
The incident happened on Aug. 15 at around 6pm, when the driver and his family were leaving the mall after collecting takeaway food. As their vehicle exited a small service road from the carpark, his wife spotted the toddler on the main road with no adult nearby.
Dashcam footage shared online showed the child running across the road while a vehicle appeared to be approaching from the carpark area. The driver quickly stopped his car before getting out and rushing towards the toddler.
Concerned that the child could move into the path of traffic, the driver carried the toddler away from the road to a safer location.
Driver Prioritised Child Safety Before Searching For Family
The driver said his immediate concerns were protecting the toddler, ensuring his family’s safety and preventing other vehicles from making sudden movements around his stopped car.
He explained that there were vehicles behind him, so he signalled for the drivers to stop before approaching the child.
The toddler, who the driver estimated to be below two years old, appeared calm and held onto him tightly after being carried away from the road.
The driver then brought the child towards the nearby bus interchange to try to locate the child’s guardian. After asking around but failing to find anyone, he continued searching along the pathway towards the mall, which was about 300 metres away.
While walking towards the mall, he eventually noticed a man approaching. The toddler’s reaction led him to believe that the man was the child’s father.
Driver Disappointed By Father’s Response
The driver approached the man and explained that the toddler had been found alone near the road and was close to entering a dangerous area.
According to the driver, the man took the toddler back but did not appear worried or offer much acknowledgement for the rescue.
The father allegedly said that the child had been “running too fast”, before leaving with the toddler.
The driver said he felt disappointed by the response, as he had expected more concern after the child was found unsupervised near a busy road.
The incident has since drawn attention online, with many praising the driver’s quick reaction and reminding parents and caregivers about the importance of closely supervising young children, especially around roads and carparks.
Young children may not fully understand traffic dangers, and even a brief moment without supervision can result in serious consequences. The driver’s actions prevented what could have become a dangerous situation and highlighted the importance of public awareness and community responsibility in keeping children safe.