Rescued from ledge, man says: I was in no danger
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers forced their way into a flat after receiving a call that a man was stuck on a window ledge on the 10th storey.
They then pulled the elderly man to safety through the window.
The incident happened at Block 408, Tampines Street 41, around 3.40pm on Wednesday.
Two fire engines, a support vehicle and an ambulance were sent to the scene.
But the man, who declined to be named, told The New Paper yesterday that he was never in any danger.
He said that he had climbed out to the ledge a few times before to fix the window grilles.
The man, who looked to be in his 60s, said in Mandarin: "I was surprised by SCDF's arrival as I didn't need rescuing. I can climb back into the unit without any help."
The alarm was raised by Mr Zainodin Mohd, a resident living in the opposite block.
The 42-year-old IT executive was moving some furniture on the common corridor with his 15-year-old son when the teen started shouting and pointing to the opposite block.
He looked across and saw a man standing on the ledge and gripping the window grilles.
Mr Zainodin said: "My son thought the man was trying to commit suicide so he was very worried and alerted me."
When he took a closer look, he realised the man was trying to climb back into the flat.
He said: "It seemed like he didn't have enough energy to lift himself back in. He was trying for around four minutes."
FEARFUL
Although the man was not shouting for help, Mr Zainodin was so fearful for his safety that he called the police on his mobile phone.
A resident living above the man's unit, who gave her name only as Madam Lim, 63, was also shocked when she saw him standing on the ledge.
The housewife came out of her flat to find out what was happening after she noticed policemen in the corridor.
She said in Mandarin: "My heart jumped when I looked down and recognised my neighbour on the ledge.
"I didn't even dare to think about what would happen if he had lost his grip and fallen."
The man who was rescued from the ledge was unconcerned by the reactions caused by his behaviour.
He said: "The resident was overreacting when he called the police. But I don't blame him as he was just being kind-hearted and worried about me."
Mr Zainodin was relieved after the SCDF officers pulled the man to safety.
He said: "The man looked quite fragile and he was standing on the ledge without any safety precautions.
"I'm happy he is safe, but this is super dangerous and he should never do it again."
"My son thought the man was trying to commit suicide so he was very worried and alerted me."
- Mr Zainodin Mohd, who called the police when he saw the man on the window ledge
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