Singapore actor Aloysius Pang injured in New Zealand during military training
Nick Perry and Glenn McConnell17:34, Jan 23 2019
ALOYSIUS PANG/INSTAGRAM Actor Aloysius Pang is in hospital in Hamilton after he was injured during military training.
Singaporean actor
Aloysius Pang is in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital after he was injured fixing a Howitzer artillery, Singapore's defence ministry says.
The 28-year-old actor sustained
serious injuries to his chest and abdomen on Saturday while carrying out repairs inside a Singapore self-propelled Howitzer, a motorised piece of artillery that looks similar to a small tank.
The actor, also known as Pang Wei Chong, was participating in Exercise Thunder Warrior at the Waiouru training area, south of Taupō, the ministry said in a statement.
ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF Singaporean SSPH Primus Self-Propelled Howitzers in the CentrePort complex.
Pang underwent several hours of abdominal surgery at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton on Saturday, and had follow-up surgeries on Monday and Tuesday, spokespeople said.
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However, the ministry said
his condition has "worsened". On Wednesday, it said he would require additional surgery.
ALOYSIUS PANG/INSTAGRAM
Aloysius Pang starred in Young & Fabulous.
Pang was inside the Howitzer to repair it when he was injured, the ministry said. A medical officer at Waiouru assessed him just before 2:30pm on Saturday, before he was sent to the Waiouru Camp Medical Centre for further treatment. By 4:10pm, the ministry statement said a helicopter had arrived to take Pang to hospital where he spent more than five and a half hours in surgery.
The New Zealand Defence Force directed queries to Singaporean authorities, but it issued a short statement confirming it was running "Exercise Thunder Warrior". A spokeswoman said the Howitzer which injured Pang belonged to the Singaporean Armed Forces.
"Exercise Thunder Warrior is a live-firing exercise hosted each year by the NZDF," the spokeswoman said.
ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF
Singaporean SSPH Primus Self-Propelled Howitzer.
Pang's mother arrived in New Zealand and spoke with him at the hospital. His father and brother were understood to be in New Zealand as well.
Singapore has a policy of
mandatory conscription of young men into the armed forces, police force or civil defense force. Most serve full time for two years, followed by annual training obligations.
The Singaporean Armed Forces described Pang as an "Operationally Ready National Serviceman" indicating that he had completed his full-time service. It described him as an armament technician.
DAVID UNWIN/STUFF
NZ soliders at Waiouru Army Base.
Pang's Singapore-based agency, NoonTalk Media, asked his fans to "continue to pray for Aloysius". It said he had undergone three operations to stabilise his condition.
Pang remained in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit on Wednesday afternoon, a district health board spokeswoman said. Singapore's defence ministry said it was investigating the incident to determine the cause.
Pang was known for his work on the movie
Young & Fabulous as well as television series that include T
he Truth Seekers and
C.L.I.F..
- Stuff and AP