National triathlete Russell Lee killed in Changi tipper truck accident, public urged to respect family’s privacy
A 24-year-old male cyclist killed last Thursday (12 Nov) in an accident involving a tipper truck has been revealed to be national triathlete Russell Lee.
Multiple teammates and friends have paid tribute to him in social media posts, sharing their sadness at his passing.
Source: @rustleekz on Instagram
National triathlete was NTU student, aiming for 2027 SEA Games
In an official statement on Sunday (15 Nov), the Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) said Lee was a dedicated student-athlete and cherished member of the national squad.
TAS president Michelle Evelyn Chow said the national governing body was thus deeply saddened by his “sudden and tragic passing”, adding:
Beyond his commitment and resilience in representing Singapore, he was known across the multi-sport fraternity for his warmth, generosity, and the quiet strength he brought to his teammates and friends. His loss leaves an irreplaceable void in our sporting community.
TAS had featured him on its Facebook page earlier this year, saying that he was a Year 2 materials science engineering student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and had made it to the national team in 2024.
He was aiming to qualify for the next SEA Games in 2027.
Source: @rustleekz on Instagram
He had over a decade’s experience in multi-sport racing
RUN Singapore, a running and fitness online magazine, featured Lee in a March 2025 Facebook post, saying he started as a swimmer before discovering his passion for running.
This led him to compete in cross-country through his secondary school and junior college days.
Source: @rustleekz on Instagram
After national service, he returned to triathlon and has accumulated more than a decade of experience in multi-sport racing.
Sportplus.sg, a local sports portal, described Lee as one of Singapore’s most dedicated young athletes “whose infectious warmth, relentless work ethic, and quiet generosity left an indelible mark on everyone who crossed his path”.
Source: @rustleekz on Instagram
Fellow triatheletes mourn him
Fellow national triathlete Tey Yi Jun, who shares almost the same birthday as Lee, said a piece of him had died.
In an emotional Instagram post, Tey said the close friends had shared hours of conversations about swimming technique, training philosophies, student life, and future plans.
Lee’s time was “just about to come” as his goals were clear and he was to achieve all of them, Tey added.
He had supported him during injuries, setbacks, and the “most stressful parts” of life as a student-athlete.
Source: @yijun.tey on Instagram
Another national triathlete Herlene Natasha Yu said in her own post that Lee was a brother that she never had.
They had developed a friendship over training and exchanging life advice, she noted, adding:
You were truly one of a kind. You had your own unique way of spreading kindness and warmth, often in ways you probably didn’t even realise.
Source: @yijun.tey on Instagram
Yu recalled that she last saw him just 15 to 20 minutes before the accident, when they waved and smiled at each other from across the road.
“Never would I have thought that wave would have been the last. I was probably the last familiar face you saw and that absolutely breaks me,” she added.
Another national triathlete Nicholas Rachmadi said Lee was like a younger brother to him — one who was the “most resilient, hardworking, hungriest, loving and goofy person”.
Lee was thus a “legend” in many ways who had touched and inspired more lives than he thought, including his.
Source: @nicholasrachmadi on Instagram
That’s why, like Tey, a part of him died when I heard the news, Rachmadi added.
National triathlete pronounced dead at scene of Changi accident
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Lee was pronounced dead at the scene after an accident with a tipper truck along Tanah Merah Coast Road.
Photos showed him lying on the road behind the truck, in the dedicated cycling lane on the far left.
Source: Tiagong SG on Facebook
TAS’ Ms Chow said it is unable to comment on the details of the accident and urged the media and the public to respect the privacy of Lee’s family and teammates.
She extended TAS’ deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and teammates and added that the immediate priority is to support the family and the national athletes and coaches who trained alongside him.
Details of any memorial arrangements will be shared in accordance with the wishes of the family.
Also read: 24-year-old cyclist dies after accident with tipper truck along Tanah Merah Coast Road
24-year-old cyclist dies after accident with tipper truck along Tanah Merah Coast Road
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Featured image adapted from @rustleekz on Instagram and Triathlon Singapore on Facebook.
