"We waited four years": Man injured in crash days before moving into BTO flat
A 28-year-old man's four-year-long wait to move into his new Build-To-Order (BTO) flat with his wife and daughter has been postponed after he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident just days before the move.
Mr Muhammad Ammaar Ayub Ismail, a senior executive in the healthcare sector, was riding his motorcycle home from Johor Bahru on May 26 when he was involved in an accident along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) towards the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).
The accident landed him in a hospital bed at the National University Hospital (NUH), where he spoke to Berita Harian about the accident.
He related that he had no memory of the accident, believing he could have lost consciousness as a result of the crash.
"The last thing I remember was messaging our interior designer to confirm an appointment in Hougang that afternoon," he recounted. "I was on my way there after refuelling in JB via the Second Link."
The police confirmed the accident and said they were alerted to it at 1.45pm. The accident involved a motorcyclist who was believed to have skidded along the AYE towards the MCE.
"The 28-year-old motorcyclist was conscious when taken to the hospital. Investigations are ongoing."
Mr Ammaar sustained multiple injuries, including a dislocated hip, a fractured left femur, and severe abrasions and bruises across his body.
He also underwent hip replacement surgery on the same day, and is currently undergoing physiotherapy.
His wife, 26-year-old Nur Sadiyah Abdul Nazar, said the surgery lasted about seven hours.
Yet, it was not the physical injuries that caused the most pain for Mr Ammaar, but the timing of the incident.
"We waited four years for this flat," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
"My wife moved in with our daughter and mother-in-law on May 31. I was supposed to join them that weekend. Instead, I woke up in a hospital bed, confused and in pain."
Ms Sadiyah echoed her husband's sentiments. "This home means a lot to us. He looks strong, but I know he's heartbroken. I'm heartbroken too. We never expected something like this to happen."
Despite the traumatic experience, Mr Ammaar remains positive.
"I told my wife to enjoy the new home on my behalf. It's hers as much as it is mine," he said. He was discharged from the hospital on June 6 after 12 days of treatment.
The couple is appealing to members of the public who could have witnessed the accident or have dashcam footage of the incident to come forward to assist with police investigations.
As the investigation continues, Mr Ammaar is focusing on his recovery, physically and emotionally: "Maybe there is a lesson to be learnt in all this. I just need to heal, for the sake of my family."