Ma Life Down Under...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
SAF warrant officer dies after 3km run
A VETERAN warrant officer from the Singapore Armed Forces collapsed and died yesterday morning after completing a 3km run at the annual SAF Commanders' Sports Day.
Master Warrant Officer Palani Jegathesan, 45, of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, was taken immediately to the Safti Military Institute Medical Centre, less than five minutes away from where he fell at the Safti Military Institute Sports Complex.
When doctors there failed to revive him, he was rushed to the National University Hospital, but died about an hour later.
The Straits Times understands that the SAF veteran of over 20 years, a father of two, had not complained of any illness before his run. Officers had performed the usual checks to find out if there were some who did not feel well.
MWO Jegathesan had marched in last year's National Day Parade as the regimental sergeant major for the colours party.
He was also said to be health conscious, although he had been diagnosed with diabetes two years ago. He was a vegetarian who did not drink or smoke and he ran three times a week.
Last week, he had complained of breathing difficulties during a run, but had dismissed it as 'nothing much', said his daughter Devage Jegathesan, 18.
The night before he died, he had come home as usual and spent time chatting with her and her 16-year-old brother.
The Secondary 5 student at Woodlands Secondary School was in class when she got a call from a relative to go straight to the hospital as her father had suffered an 'exercise injury'.
'I couldn't believe it when I heard he had passed away,' she said.
She said that he was a devoted father who had been planning a year-end holiday for the family.
MWO Jegathesan is also survived by his 45-year-old wife, a computer planner.
He will be given a full military funeral today. Mindef said it was assisting the family and is investigating the incident.
1:45 AM