At 10.45am today, two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) full-time
National Servicemen (NSFs), Safety Officer Second Lieutenant (2LT)
Kamalasivam S/O Shanmuganathan and Recruit (REC) Abdul Hamid Bin
Abdul Smad were injured while participating in a live hand grenade
training at Pulau Tekong. The practice throw earlier the same
morning had proceeded without incident. But for the actual throw,
REC Abdul Hamid accidentally released the hand grenade lever while
pulling out the safety pin. 2LT Kamalasivam, the Safety Officer,
immediately instructed REC Abdul Hamid to throw the grenade towards
the designated impact area. 2LT Kamalasivam then pulled REC Abdul
Hamid down to take cover in the grenade throwing bay and shielded
him. The grenade detonated in mid-air away from the bay.
REC Abdul Hamid sustained an injury to a finger on his right
hand while 2LT Kamalasivam was injured on his left shoulder. Both
servicemen were treated on site and subsequently sent to Changi
General Hospital (CGH) at 11.45am. Both are stable and conscious,
and currently under observation in the general ward in CGH.
Live hand grenade training has been suspended until
investigations are completed. The alertness and quick action of 2LT
Kamalasivam averted more serious injury to both the recruit and
himself.