NSF's death ruled a misadventure
He was trapped by sliding hydraulic door on navy ship
By Elena Chong & Jermyn Chow
A FULL-TIME national serviceman was carrying out a routine check on a Republic of Singapore Navy landing ship tank last year when he was trapped by a sliding hydraulic door.
Lance Corporal Mar Teng Fong was evacuated but died three days later in hospital of traumatic asphyxia, with chest injuries.
Yesterday, State Coroner Imran Abdul Hamid recorded a misadventure verdict after ruling out foul play and mechanical failure in the 20-year-old NSF's death.
The coroner's inquiry heard that on Nov 18 last year, Lance Cpl Mar was doing a maintenance check of engineering systems on board the RSS Persistence.
The ship was anchored off Changi Naval Base when the engineering naval specialist was told to check the machinery in the aft engine room and steering gear compartment, at about 11.40pm.
When Lance Cpl Mar failed to return, a colleague went to investigate and found him trapped between the door and its frame, unconscious. The hydraulic door connects the ship's engine room and propeller shaft compartment.
His colleague could not open the door with the control lever and pushed both the lever and the door several times. The door moved slightly, and Lance Cpl Mar fell backwards onto the deck.
He was evacuated by helicopter to Singapore General Hospital but died three days later.
The coroner accepted police investigation findings that Lance Cpl Mar could have accidentally hit the lever which opens and shuts the heavy hydraulic door.
The Republic of Singapore Navy has since installed a CCTV camera at each of the two hydraulic doors on board all landing ship tanks (LSTs).
These cameras will monitor 'personnel movements on board the LST', said Defence Ministry spokesman Desmond Tan yesterday. In another measure introduced since the accident, a buzzer will go off in the engine room if any of the doors is left open.
Also, servicemen now carry out maintenance checks in pairs, and have to carry walkie-talkies and inform their superiors before and after passing through the hydraulic doors, added Colonel Tan.
Lance Cpl Mar's parents, who live in Johor Baru, and an aunt attended the coroner's inquiry.
His aunt said he was two weeks away from completing his NS when the incident happened.
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[email protected]
He was trapped by sliding hydraulic door on navy ship
By Elena Chong & Jermyn Chow
A FULL-TIME national serviceman was carrying out a routine check on a Republic of Singapore Navy landing ship tank last year when he was trapped by a sliding hydraulic door.
Lance Corporal Mar Teng Fong was evacuated but died three days later in hospital of traumatic asphyxia, with chest injuries.
Yesterday, State Coroner Imran Abdul Hamid recorded a misadventure verdict after ruling out foul play and mechanical failure in the 20-year-old NSF's death.
The coroner's inquiry heard that on Nov 18 last year, Lance Cpl Mar was doing a maintenance check of engineering systems on board the RSS Persistence.
The ship was anchored off Changi Naval Base when the engineering naval specialist was told to check the machinery in the aft engine room and steering gear compartment, at about 11.40pm.
When Lance Cpl Mar failed to return, a colleague went to investigate and found him trapped between the door and its frame, unconscious. The hydraulic door connects the ship's engine room and propeller shaft compartment.
His colleague could not open the door with the control lever and pushed both the lever and the door several times. The door moved slightly, and Lance Cpl Mar fell backwards onto the deck.
He was evacuated by helicopter to Singapore General Hospital but died three days later.
The coroner accepted police investigation findings that Lance Cpl Mar could have accidentally hit the lever which opens and shuts the heavy hydraulic door.
The Republic of Singapore Navy has since installed a CCTV camera at each of the two hydraulic doors on board all landing ship tanks (LSTs).
These cameras will monitor 'personnel movements on board the LST', said Defence Ministry spokesman Desmond Tan yesterday. In another measure introduced since the accident, a buzzer will go off in the engine room if any of the doors is left open.
Also, servicemen now carry out maintenance checks in pairs, and have to carry walkie-talkies and inform their superiors before and after passing through the hydraulic doors, added Colonel Tan.
Lance Cpl Mar's parents, who live in Johor Baru, and an aunt attended the coroner's inquiry.
His aunt said he was two weeks away from completing his NS when the incident happened.
[email protected]
[email protected]
