Army regular collapses and dies after half-marathon.
Sun, Aug 26, 2007
AsiaOne
An army regular collapsed and died after he completed the
half-marathon in the Singapore Bay Run this morning.
Captain Ho Si Qiu, 25, a platoon commander from Officer Cadet
School, crossed the finish line of his 21-km run at about 7 am, and
collapsed.
"The on-site medical team attended to Cpt Ho immediately and he was
sent to Singapore General Hospital at 7.23am after full
resuscitative efforts," said a statement from SAFRA National
Service Association and the Army and Singapore Sports
Council.
"The ambulance reached the hospital at 7.35am and Cpt Ho was
pronounced dead at 8.07am after sustained resuscitation efforts by
the SGH doctors. The cause of his death is being
investigated."
The regular serviceman was the latest fit and active person to die
suddenly in strenueous sports.
At least four others have died this year while running, practising
taekwondo or working out in the gym, according to The Straits
Times.
The most recent casualty was tennage triathlete Thaddeus Cheong,
17, who collapsed and died after completing a gruelling tirathlon
two months ago.
His death prompted the setting up of a Sports Safety Committee last
month. It is tasked to review safety measures and recommend a
comprehensive safety framework, and has submitted a preliminary
report to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and
Sports.
Over 70,000 runners, including Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, took
part in the annual event, now into its 16th year.
The Singapore Bay Run, which comprises the Safra Sheares Bridge Run
and Army Half-Marathon, also featured a 12-km competitive category
for the first time, and a 6km fun run.
Participants, who were flagged off at 5.30 am, ran from Esplanade
Drive up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and continued through Marina
Bay, Chinatown and East Coast Park, and finished at the National
Day Parade floating platform.
Medical support was provided by 130 army medical personnel deployed
along the route, and 16 ambulances, each equipped with a
defibrillator, were on standby.
