9-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) A Singaporean student, Mr Cheng Yu Heng, endured a fractured left cheekbone and memory loss following a tragic ATV accident in Ubud, Bali. The incident occurred when the all-terrain vehicle he was riding collided with a coconut tree.
Mr Cheng, 23, has no recollection of the events leading up to the accident, which took place last Saturday. Concerned about her son’s well-being, his mother flew to Bali on Sunday to provide support and facilitate his return to Singapore. The pair arrived back in Singapore the following day and sought treatment from a facial trauma specialist at Sengkang General Hospital.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Cheng, a psychology student, shared that he had travelled to Seminyak, Bali, with four friends on June 2, planning to stay for five days. On June 3, he and his friends ventured to Ubud to experience riding ATVs, also known as quad bikes, through the forested terrain.
The group had booked their ATV ride with Periwi Adventure Bali, a local company. According to Mr Cheng, the ATV he was assigned was rigid and challenging to control. As he descended a hill, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a coconut tree. The ATV guide accompanying the group promptly took Mr Cheng to a nearby clinic. Upon examination, the doctor recommended transferring him to RSD Mangusada Hospital in Badung.
At the hospital, medical professionals discovered a hairline fracture in Mr Cheng’s left cheekbone. He was prescribed painkillers and antibiotics to aid his recovery.
When asked about his recollection of the fall, Mr Cheng expressed, “I can’t even remember being in Bali.”
One of Mr Cheng’s friends, Ms Yeo Zhi Min, 23, recalled the incident, noting that it was not the first time he had been involved in an ATV crash. She explained that Mr Cheng and the group had encountered several obstacles before the accident occurred. However, after the ATV guide helped Mr Cheng back up, it became evident that his facial injuries were severe.
Ms Yeo emphasized that her friend remained conscious but disoriented following the crash. She commended the adventure tour company for coordinating and covering the costs of transportation and medical treatment in Ubud.
Mr Cheng’s girlfriend, Ms Faith Zheng, received a text message about the accident from one of his friends while watching a movie with her sister at the cinema. Recalling the moment, she shared feeling incredibly stressed and needing to calmly escort her sister out of the theater.
According to Ms Zheng, Mr Cheng repeatedly questioned his friends after the accident, asking if he was in trouble, how he ended up there, and what had transpired. During their phone conversation, he struggled to grasp the situation but recognized the faces of his friends and family members.
“He can’t remember the exact order of the events from his holiday,” Ms Zheng explained, noting that her boyfriend only recalled fragments of the past few months.
Reflecting on the horrifying experience, Mr Cheng expressed gratitude for still being alive.
