INDEPENDENT NEWS

Singaporean actor dies after military training in NZ

Published: Thu 24 Jan 2019 12:01 PM
Singaporean actor Pang Wei Chong dies after military training in New Zealand
A Singaporean actor and soldier who was injured during a military exercise in Waiouru over the weekend has died.
Singaporean actor Aloysius Pangtion was injured at the Waiouru Training Area. Photo: Facebook / NoonTalk.Aloysius
Pang Wei Chong, an Armament Technician reservist from the 268th Battalion Singapore Artillery, was injured while carrying out repair work on a self-propelled Howitzer weapon last Saturday.
He sustained injuries when the gun barrel was lowered.
He was taken to Waikato Hospital, where he underwent a number of surgeries to treat his injuries.
Earlier, a New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson confirmed the injury happened during Exercise Thunder Warrior - a live-firing exercise it hosts each year but does not participate in.
Doctor Teo Li Tserng, chief of trauma and acute care surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, was flown in to assist the New Zealand medical team.
The Singapore Ministry of Defence said in a statement that despite surgical attempts to repair damaged organs and putting him on artificial life support, Mr Pang succumbed to the injuries and died last night.
An independent Committee of Inquiry will investigate and preliminary findings will be presented on Thursday by the chief of the Defence Force.
The Singapore Armed Forces will be making arrangements to take the body back to Singapore.
Mr Pang is an actor who has starred in a number of Singaporean films and television series.
His family had earlier posted on social media about the actor's condition and what doctors had told them.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Next in Comment

Dunne's Weekly: Luxon Gets Out His Butcher's Knife - Briefly
By: Peter Dunne
Warring Against Encryption: Australia Is Coming For Your Communications
By: Binoy Kampmark
On Fast Track Powers, Media Woes And The Tiktok Ban
By: Gordon Campbell
Censorship Wars: Elon Musk, Safety Commissioners And Violent Content
By: Binoy Kampmark
On The Public Sector Carnage, And Misogyny As Terrorism
By: Gordon Campbell
NATO’s Never-ending War: The 75-Year-Old Bully Is Faltering
By: Ramzy Baroud
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media