The boatman, who went missing on Tuesday evening after his bumboat caught fire, was finally found.
The Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) retrieved his body from the Singapore River on late Wednesday (July 13), with the help of PUB’s officers.
The man was identified to be Ong Hock Long, who was in his 30s. His next-to-kin has been informed. “Our condolences to the family,” said the SCDF representative on an official Facebook post.
The Singapore River Cruise electric bumboat, RC 36, caught fire on last Tuesday for some reasons yet to be known. The boat has been used for three years. In the middle of the fire, Ong jumped from the burning vessel onto the water, said several eyewitnesses.
There were no reports on other missing persons or injuries. Ong was alone in the bumboat that evening, even though according to several boatmen, there is a rule stating there should be at least two crew member onboard in order to operate the boat. Each boat also includes two fire extinguishers and life vests under the seats.
In spite of the grave incident, the bumboats have already resumed in business, as seen on Wednesday.
Around 2pm at that day, the burnt vessel was towed away by a tugboat from the outdoor stage of Esplanade Theatre by the bay.
Some tourists could be seen snapping selfies with the skeleton of the boat as it was being towed away.
The river taxis such as the one that Mr Ong was on, can be seen ferrying the tourists across the Singapore River and Marina Bay area on a daily basis.
