A Board of Inquiry (BOI) will be convened to review the events leading up to the death of 19-year-old full-time national serviceman (NSF) Edward H Go in a firefighting operation last December.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said this in Parliament on Friday (Feb 24), in response to a question by Mr Murali Pillai, Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok Group Representation Constituency.

Mr Murali had asked whether an independent BOI will be convened to investigate the circumstances leading to Go’s death and make recommendations to rectify any lapse in the firefighting operation that may not be uncovered from the review.

Assoc Prof Faishal said the police are investigating Go’s death and will inform the Coroner of their findings when it is completed.

The Coroner will also consider the police’s investigations, and make a finding on the circumstances relating to Go's demise, he added.

"We have decided that we will also convene a Board of Inquiry under the Civil Defence Act to conduct a review of the incident," said Assoc Prof Faishal.

“Since the BOI is also a fact finding body, it will be held after the Coroner’s findings are established. The BOI will then also be able to consider the police and the Coroner’s findings, in its assessment of the matter.”

He added that the board will submit its report to the Minister for Home Affairs and the ministry will share the board’s findings and recommendations “at an appropriate juncture”.

Go was the first Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel to die in firefighting operations.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Dec 8 at about 11.10am, the SCDF was alerted to a fire on the fourth floor of Block 91 Henderson Road.

As firefighters entered the smoke-logged flat to put out the fire, Go fell unconscious in the kitchen area, the SCDF had said at the time.

His colleagues immediately took him out of the unit to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on him. The NSF was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Assoc Prof Faishal had earlier said that SCDF officers responding to the incident found that the fire engine accessway leading to Block 91 Henderson Road was obstructed by a tent where a funeral wake was being held.

Officers had to remove the bollards that were padlocked to the ground near the tentage to create an access route, which delayed their arrival by 18 minutes.

Go was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant (1) and accorded full ceremonial honours on Dec 13.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by NABILAH AWANG

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