Baey Yam Keng presents awards to two commuters and SBS bus captain who helped Tower Transit bus driver during medical emergency
On Friday (16 Oct), Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng presented awards to three people who helped a Tower Transit bus captain who became unresponsive.
One of them even climbed into the driver’s seat to stop the bus.
Source: Baey Yam Keng on Facebook
Passenger finds handbrake and brings Tower Transit bus to a stop
At around 1.30pm on 14 Sept, a bus captain became unwell while driving Tower Transit service 854 along Hougang Avenue 3.
The medical emergency caused him to become unresponsive as the bus approached a bus stop.
A commuter at the bus stop spotted the bus captain slumped over and knocked on the doors to alert the passengers.
“Ngee Ann Polytechnic accountancy student Neo Ying Ying ran to check on the bus captain and called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF),” Tower Transit stated.
Source: Baey Yam Keng on Facebook
The commuters pulled him out of his seat and onto the floor, where Ms Neo stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Ng Lihui climbed into the driver’s seat of the bus.
Although she had never driven a bus before, she found the handbrake after spotting the “For Safety: Handbrake On” sticker.
The woman managed to bring the bus to a stop.
Source: Tower Transit Singapore on Facebook
An unidentified third passenger assisted the bus captain as well.
SBS Transit bus captain arrives to assist Tower Transit counterpart
At the same time, SBS Transit bus captain Toh Tiong Huat was driving service 55 along Hougang Avenue 3.
Mr Toh spotted service 854 moving erratically and slowly, and someone knocking on the doors.
He thus parked his bus and went over to check, finding the bus captain unconscious.
Source: Baey Yam Keng on Facebook
Mr Toh opened the bus doors and contacted Tower Transit’s Bus Operations Control Centre for help.
He then returned to his bus once he confirmed that help was on the way.
Baey Yam Keng looking to commend two other unnamed commuters who helped
Last Friday, Mr Baey Yam Keng presented certificates of appreciation to Ms Neo, Ms Ng, and Mr Toh.
Their quick and selfless actions kept everyone safe, and I hope their story inspires more of us to look out for one another on our public transport journeys.
Source: Tower Transit Singapore on Facebook
Mr Baey and Tower Transit are also looking for the commuter at the bus stop and the third passenger who helped.
They urged the two kind souls to reach out to feedback@towertransit.sg so they can receive commendations.
Furthermore, Tower Transit will sponsor up to 50 volunteer Caring Commuter Champions to attend a pilot workshop on emergency response in a public bus setting.
We hope their actions will inspire more to step forward to offer help to others in need.
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Featured image adapted from Baey Yam Keng on Facebook and Tower Transit Singapore on Facebook.
