The Electric New Paper :
Security guard dies saving woman in S'pore River: 'Hero' label for him is cold comfort for family
'Hero? I'd rather he be alive & with me'
HE gave his life for you, yet there is not a word of thanks from you.
By Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
05 January 2009
HE gave his life for you, yet there is not a word of thanks from you.
The family of security guard Saran Saunthara Pandian, who died saving a young woman at the Singapore River, want her to come forward.
No one knows who this woman is as she left the scene before the police arrived.
Mr Saran, 19, had dived into the river to save the unidentified woman on 19 Dec. He managed to push her to the side where her friends pulled her to safety.
The Malaysian, who was a poor swimmer, then got into difficulties and was swept away by currents.
Said Mr Saran's brother, Mr Vijih Saunthara Pandian: 'I was told that a security guard on the opposite side of bank saw my brother waving his hand and shouting for help after he had saved the woman.
'If this was true, why didn't the woman and her friends help my brother?
'I would rather my brother wasn't a hero because when he needed help, he got none in return.'
Mr Vijih, 22, said that if the woman was truly thankful, then at the very least she should have stayed and helped with the search.
'It seemed that the woman just walked away,' he said.
The frustration from those closest to Mr Saran is especially strong as most knew him to be a helpful person, said Mr Vijih.
Mr Saran's closest cousin, Mr Jamal Din, said he could not accept that the person whom his cousin had helped had not come forward.
Said Mr Jamal: 'We're not going to scold the woman and we're not blaming her for causing his (Mr Saran's) death.
'But a phone call or a visit to offer condolences would help the family.
'Maybe an explanation of what really happened at that time would be helpful. Till this day, we have not heard from her.'
The family is still reeling from the death, and details about what happened would give them some closure, said family members.
The grief was evident when The New Paper on Sunday met the family on Friday at their terrace house in Masai, a 40-minute drive from Johor Baru (JB).
Family members went on Friday to participate in the '16-day' prayers to appease Mr Saran's soul.
A small altar, with Mr Saran's garlanded picture and a white shirt pinned to the wall, faced the mourners.
The day that his brother went missing is etched forever in Mr Vijih's memory.
Both Mr Saran and his brother worked as security guards for the same company.
Mr Saran, who started work seven months ago, was posted to Riverside View, a serviced apartment at Boat Quay, while Mr Vijih worked in a Bishan condominium.
That morning, Mr Vijih, who was on duty, was informed by Mr Saran's manager that his brother 'was missing and had not reported to work'.
When Mr Vijih arrived at the location, he was surprised to see rescue vehicles and police cars.
It was then that he learnt what had happened.
Said Mr Vijih: 'I prayed that he was simply missing because he was sleeping in some staircase. I didn't want to believe that he had drowned.'
The search went on, but his younger brother could not be found.
Two days later, Mr Vijih was informed by the authorities that his brother's body had been found in the river.
Mr Saran's decomposed body was identified by his long hair, possessions and uniform.
Said Mr Vijih: 'We both rented a room in JB and shared a king-sized bed. The day he went missing, I couldn't sleep because there was this empty space beside me on the bed. Everywhere I turned, it reminded me of my brother.'
Mr Vijih said it was heartbreaking trying to tell his father that Mr Saran was dead.
'It broke his heart. My mother didn't know at all because she was in India visiting temples.'
Mr Saunthara Pandian, 50, a railway worker, has not been eating or drinking properly.
He said: 'I wanted to come to Singapore to help with the search but I didn't have a passport. It was unusual when they said he had not reported to work.
'My son was punctual and never took sick leave unnecessarily.'
Coincidentally, the day Mr Saran's body was found, his mother, a housewife, returned from India.
Said Madam Tharmmambal Gopal Raj, 48: 'I knew something was wrong when I saw so many people at my house. It was hard to accept that my 'pet' is no longer around.
'But I'm proud that he is a hero. It was his nature to help even if it burdened him.'
The family said Mr Saran's company had helped by paying for the funeral.
Mr Jamal said Mr Saran was happy-go-lucky.
'He would rather fish than anything else. He was happiest when fishing all night long. He would be the first to offer, if you needed help,' said Mr Jamal.
Recently, one of Mr Saran's friends needed money for his wife's operation.
Mr Saran, who had just received his $1,200 pay, gave all of it to his friend, without question, said Mr Jamal.
Security guard dies saving woman in S'pore River: 'Hero' label for him is cold comfort for family
'Hero? I'd rather he be alive & with me'
HE gave his life for you, yet there is not a word of thanks from you.
By Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
05 January 2009
HE gave his life for you, yet there is not a word of thanks from you.
The family of security guard Saran Saunthara Pandian, who died saving a young woman at the Singapore River, want her to come forward.
No one knows who this woman is as she left the scene before the police arrived.
Mr Saran, 19, had dived into the river to save the unidentified woman on 19 Dec. He managed to push her to the side where her friends pulled her to safety.
The Malaysian, who was a poor swimmer, then got into difficulties and was swept away by currents.
Said Mr Saran's brother, Mr Vijih Saunthara Pandian: 'I was told that a security guard on the opposite side of bank saw my brother waving his hand and shouting for help after he had saved the woman.
'If this was true, why didn't the woman and her friends help my brother?
'I would rather my brother wasn't a hero because when he needed help, he got none in return.'
Mr Vijih, 22, said that if the woman was truly thankful, then at the very least she should have stayed and helped with the search.
'It seemed that the woman just walked away,' he said.
The frustration from those closest to Mr Saran is especially strong as most knew him to be a helpful person, said Mr Vijih.
Mr Saran's closest cousin, Mr Jamal Din, said he could not accept that the person whom his cousin had helped had not come forward.
Said Mr Jamal: 'We're not going to scold the woman and we're not blaming her for causing his (Mr Saran's) death.
'But a phone call or a visit to offer condolences would help the family.
'Maybe an explanation of what really happened at that time would be helpful. Till this day, we have not heard from her.'
The family is still reeling from the death, and details about what happened would give them some closure, said family members.
The grief was evident when The New Paper on Sunday met the family on Friday at their terrace house in Masai, a 40-minute drive from Johor Baru (JB).
Family members went on Friday to participate in the '16-day' prayers to appease Mr Saran's soul.
A small altar, with Mr Saran's garlanded picture and a white shirt pinned to the wall, faced the mourners.
The day that his brother went missing is etched forever in Mr Vijih's memory.
Both Mr Saran and his brother worked as security guards for the same company.
Mr Saran, who started work seven months ago, was posted to Riverside View, a serviced apartment at Boat Quay, while Mr Vijih worked in a Bishan condominium.
That morning, Mr Vijih, who was on duty, was informed by Mr Saran's manager that his brother 'was missing and had not reported to work'.
When Mr Vijih arrived at the location, he was surprised to see rescue vehicles and police cars.
It was then that he learnt what had happened.
Said Mr Vijih: 'I prayed that he was simply missing because he was sleeping in some staircase. I didn't want to believe that he had drowned.'
The search went on, but his younger brother could not be found.
Two days later, Mr Vijih was informed by the authorities that his brother's body had been found in the river.
Mr Saran's decomposed body was identified by his long hair, possessions and uniform.
Said Mr Vijih: 'We both rented a room in JB and shared a king-sized bed. The day he went missing, I couldn't sleep because there was this empty space beside me on the bed. Everywhere I turned, it reminded me of my brother.'
Mr Vijih said it was heartbreaking trying to tell his father that Mr Saran was dead.
'It broke his heart. My mother didn't know at all because she was in India visiting temples.'
Mr Saunthara Pandian, 50, a railway worker, has not been eating or drinking properly.
He said: 'I wanted to come to Singapore to help with the search but I didn't have a passport. It was unusual when they said he had not reported to work.
'My son was punctual and never took sick leave unnecessarily.'
Coincidentally, the day Mr Saran's body was found, his mother, a housewife, returned from India.
Said Madam Tharmmambal Gopal Raj, 48: 'I knew something was wrong when I saw so many people at my house. It was hard to accept that my 'pet' is no longer around.
'But I'm proud that he is a hero. It was his nature to help even if it burdened him.'
The family said Mr Saran's company had helped by paying for the funeral.
Mr Jamal said Mr Saran was happy-go-lucky.
'He would rather fish than anything else. He was happiest when fishing all night long. He would be the first to offer, if you needed help,' said Mr Jamal.
Recently, one of Mr Saran's friends needed money for his wife's operation.
Mr Saran, who had just received his $1,200 pay, gave all of it to his friend, without question, said Mr Jamal.
