Four strangers help man after he collapses at wedding
Woman in distress after husband collapses at a wedding. Then...
Watching her husband collapse before her eyes was one of the most traumatic experiences of her life.
But property agent Maimunah Borhan, 55, managed to hold herself together with the help of four strangers turned guardian angels.
One gave CPR, two comforted her and another consoled her while her husband was in the intensive care unit.
On the afternoon of May 10, Madam Maimunah and her grandson were with her husband, Mr Nur Muhammad Sapini, 57, an engineer, at his colleague's wedding at Woodlands Community Centre.
Halfway through the ceremony, her husband told her he was about to black out. She thought he was joking.
"I told him not to fool around, especially since we were at a public event," she said.
Then Madam Maimunah found her husband leaning on her. He had lost consciousness.
"I lost control of myself and started shouting for help," said Madam Maimunah.
When she heard people saying her husband was dead, she started crying hysterically, hugging Mr Muhammad and trying repeatedly to wake him up.
Two of the wedding guests, Mr Loke Chee Onn, 55, a pilot, and his wife came forward to offer Madam Maimunah emotional support.
"No one should have to be alone in such a situation," said Mr Loke.
They also took care of Madam Maimunah's grandson while she was attending to her husband.
A woman then stepped forward, saying she was a qualified nurse. She started performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Mr Muhammad.
She managed to get a pulse, but Mr Muhammad remained unconscious. When the ambulance arrived, Madam Maimunah rushed off with her husband and in her haste, she did not find out the name of the woman who had helped them.
Mr Muhammad was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital that afternoon.
WATER & TISSUE PAPER
Madam Kym Tan, 40, who works in the electronics field, found Madam Maimunah alone and waiting for her children to reach the hospital from their home.
She offered Madam Maimunah water and tissue paper and consoled her after learning about Mr Muhammad.
Madam Tan told The New Paper (TNP): "My father was admitted recently into ICU as well, so I understand how it feels to have your loved one in danger. When I saw her, I just felt the need to reassure her and encourage her to stay strong."
Mr and Mrs Loke turned up at the hospital later to visit Madam Maimunah and Mr Muhammad.
They brought food from the wedding and even volunteered to act as chauffeurs to Madam Maimunah's children.
Mr Muhammad was discharged last Friday after being warded in hospital for four days. The cause of his collapse has yet to be determined.
Madam Tan has kept in touch with the couple and she texts Madam Maimunah daily to ask about her and her family.
Madam Maimunah says she was immensely grateful to the four strangers who went to her aid at such a critical moment.
"Words cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am. They did not know me or my family, but they still offered me help without expecting anything in return," she said.
She hopes to contact the woman who performed CPR on her husband, saying: "I want to thank her in person for what she has done. Without her help, my husband could have left us."
- If you are the nurse who helped Mr Muhammad or know who she is, please call 1800-733 4455 or e-mail tnp@sph.com.sg
They did not know me or my family, but they still offered me help without expecting anything in return.
- Madam Maimunah Borhan
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