A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Operationally Ready National Serviceman, Corporal First Class (National Service) [CFC (NS)] Pang Wei Chong, Aloysius, 28, an Armament Technician from the 268th Battalion Singapore Artillery, who was seriously injured during a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training exercise in New Zealand, is in critical condition and being managed in the intensive care unit.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a press release on Wednesday (23 January) that CFC (NS) Pang’s condition had worsened and required additional surgery, which was completed on Tuesday at 11.54 pm (SG time).
The ministry noted that since arriving in New Zealand on the morning of 22 January (SG time), Dr Teo Li Tserng, Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, has been working with the New Zealand medical team to provide the best care for CFC (NS) Pang.
CFC (NS) Pang, who is also a professional actor, sustained serious injuries to his chest and abdominal areas while carrying out repair works on a Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer.
The incident happened at approximately 2.05 pm (SG time) on Saturday (19 January), during his participation in Exercise Thunder Warrior, at Waiouru Training Area, New Zealand.
The serviceman is currently being taken care of at Waikato hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
The exercise, which is conducted annually since 1997, is an artillery live-firing exercise held at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand. This year’s exercise runs from 5 January to 2 February, which involves more than 500 personnel from the 268th and 24th Battalions, Singapore Artillery.
