Tower Transit has thanked an SBS Transit bus captain and four commuters for displaying what it called a “caring commuter culture”.
Their timely actions helped prevent disaster when a Tower Transit bus captain suffered a medical emergency at the wheel, said the transport operator in a Facebook post on Tuesday (15 Sept).
Source: Tower Transit Singapore on Facebook. Photo for illustration purposes only.
On Monday (14 Sept) afternoon, the Tower Transit bus captain experienced a sudden medical emergency while driving service 854.
This caused the bus captain to become unresponsive, Tower Transit said.
At the same time, the bus was approaching a bus stop along Hougang Ave 3.
Source: Google Maps
When a man at the bus stop saw the bus captain slumped in the cabin, he knocked on the bus doors to alert the passengers.
This prompted three passengers to spring into action — one of them checked on the bus captain’s condition.
Another passenger called an ambulance, while a third passenger engaged the handbrake after climbing into the driver’s seat, so that it could stop safely.
An SBS Transit bus captain who was nearby also helped — he managed to get in touch with the Tower Transit control centre, so that the passenger who stopped the bus could inform them about what happened.
Tower Transit praised the SBS bus captain and the four commuters, saying that all the bus passengers are safe thanks to them.
Its bus captain is in stable condition and being cared for, it noted, adding:
To the vigilant commuter at the bus stop, the quick-thinking passengers, and the helpful SBS Transit Ltd bus captain, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The transport operator asked them to drop them a message or call the hotline so they could be thanked “properly”.
Source: Tower Transit Singapore on Facebook
In response to queries from MS News, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at about 1.30pm on 14 Sept.
It came from Hougang Avenue 3, it added.
One person was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).
SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu told MS News that on the afternoon of 14 Sept, its bus captain Toh Tiong Huat was driving Service 55 along Hougang Avenue 3 when he noticed a Tower Transit bus ahead of him travelling slowly, before stopping at a bus stop.
“Sensing that something was amiss, he safely parked his bus and went over to check on the situation,” she said.
Upon realising that the other bus captain had lost consciousness, Mr Toh immediately contacted the Tower Transit Bus Operations Control Centre for assistance, while a passenger called for an ambulance.
He then returned to his bus and continued his journey after ensuring that help was on the way.
“We are proud of Tiong Huat for stepping up to help a fellow Bus Captain when it mattered, and we will be recognising him for his actions,” Mrs Wu said.
His actions reflect the “strong camaraderie” across Singapore’s public transport network, she noted, adding:
While we may wear different uniforms, we are all part of the same One Transport family, united by our commitment to serve commuters and look out for one another.
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Featured image adapted from Tower Transit Singapore on Facebook. Photo for illustration purposes only.