1968 [Source]
First reported training death in October 1968. In that incident, Recruit Allen Tan Chong Huat, 19, was stung by hornets in the Chua Chu Kang forest. He was rushed to Taman Jurong Camp but there was no doctor on duty there ( military doctors then clocked an 8am to 5pm shift). What’s more, the garrison’s ambulance was out on another call. So Recruit Tan’s officers rushed him to the main road to flag down a passing vehicle. It took an hour to get him to hospital.
I believe that the first SAF death was before this. I recall that in January 1968, our original batch of armour officers were send to Israel for training. As well, NCOs were also send there for training on the same AMX-13. My understanding was that some of them committed suicide in Isreal due to kenna tekan by their instructors. So, it would mean that it predates your Oct. 1968 date by a few months. This was hush hush and still is today.