NSF dies after vehicular incident at Shoalwater Bay training area in Australia

[stargazer]

A 21-year-old full-time national serviceman from the Singapore Armed Forces has died at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, yesterday (Sept 15) following a vehicular incident.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said that 3rd Sergeant Chan Hiang Cheng Gavin was travelling in a Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle as part of an exercise at around 6.15pm Singapore time when the incident occurred.

An SAF medic then commenced resuscitation efforts on the national serviceman, who was unconscious.

He was later evacuated by a helicopter to Rockhampton Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at around 10.36pm Singapore time.

A safety pause on training in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area has taken effect, and an investigation of the incident is ongoing.

"The Ministry of Defence and the SAF extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late serviceman and are assisting the family in this time of grief," said MINDEF in the statement.
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Armour Exercise. May he RIP.

[hkh]

Vehicle overturned ?? May he RIP.......

[stargazer]

Must wait for SAF to investigate.

I was there many yrs ago, terrain very different. 1st night reached the camp already got NSF unit M113 overturned into a drain.

[stargazer]

The full-time National Serviceman who died after a vehicular accident while on training in Queensland, Australia, will be accorded a military funeral.

The body of the late 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Chan Hiang Cheng Gavin was brought back to Singapore around 6pm on Tuesday (19 September), the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement.

The cremation ceremony for 3SG Chan will be held at Mandai Crematorium after the military funeral on Saturday.

Mindef and the Singapore Armed Forces will continue to provide support to the family of 3SG Chan, the statement said.

Last Friday, 3SG Chan, a Vehicle Commander from the 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment, died following an accident at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. He was travelling in a Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle as part of an exercise when the accident happened.

3SG Chan was guiding the vehicle out of difficult terrain when it landed on its side. He was found unconscious next to the vehicle.

After being evacuated via a helicopter to a hospital, 3SG Chan succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on Friday night.
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When vehicle overturn, the VC always kena as he is exposed. No amount of overturning drill can effectively prevent such incident. RIP comrade.

[Robson]

Remind me of my time in Taiwan. 1st day there, 1 unimob crashed down a cliff. The unimob became a pile of scrap metal.

[bedoklist]

There was also a case at sungei gedong outside the camp. Year cant recall, around 1980+, M113 overturn at a drain and VC head was smashed something like that. Officer from 38 SCE. This incident was during night time when a convoy of vehicles back from training.

[LauLanChu]

Remind me of my near miss during my BMT. Squatting in bushes near to a road mud path. Suddenly a 3 tonner drove pass me just cm's away, believing the driver did not even see me. Phew I could be pancake and fortunate still around today.

[tangmulong4488]

Jin sad..not sure how vehicle commander can mati like that? Anyone can share how it happened?

[foxwagon]

In the 1980s, one of the land rovers FFR antenae cable hit the overhead power cables in Taiwan. One soldier died, one soldier on wheel chair. After that all land rovers cables must be tied down.
In SG, power cables underground. In TW, cables over head.

[stargazer]

Originally Posted by tangmulong4488

Jin sad..not sure how vehicle commander can mati like that? Anyone can share how it happened?

Vehicle overturn. SAF may share details later. Can be: VC is always half body expose in vehicle, giving directions to driver. So if vehicle overturn, VC will be hurt as well.

Or ... VC is on ground giving directions (use hand signals) to driver to steer vehicle out of terrain...For armour vehicles, this is a normal practice.