14-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) Despite Singapore’s reputation for safety, occasional incidents of knife assaults serve as stark reminders that no place is entirely immune to such acts of violence.
The most recent incident unfolded in Geylang, where a woman found herself being chased by a man brandishing a knife. Fortunately, she was saved by a courageous bystander who intervened with a flying kick, preventing her assailant from causing harm. However, in the process, the Good Samaritan sustained injuries of his own.
The disturbing incident occurred at approximately 8:13 PM on Sunday (November 12), as reported by Shin Min Daily News. An eyewitness named Li Kui, who happened to be withdrawing cash from an ATM nearby, recounted the entire incident to the newspaper. According to Li, he witnessed a woman wearing a black-and-white striped dress screaming and desperately running out of Lorong 25 Geylang. In hot pursuit was a man wielding a knife, a sight that Li described as “terrifying.”
Alarming scenes unfolded as the man caught up with the woman on the roadside in front of the ATM. Gripping her long hair with one hand and raising the knife with the other, he prepared to strike when a savior appeared at the crucial moment. Another man sprinted towards them and launched a flying kick, targeting the shoulder of the bald assailant, causing him to lose his balance. Seizing the opportunity, the woman managed to break free and escape.
The Good Samaritan then engaged in a struggle with the bald man, attempting to subdue him and prevent further harm. Tragically, during the scuffle, the brave rescuer was stabbed in the right abdomen, resulting in profuse bleeding. Fortunately, a man across the street, dressed in red, witnessed the unfolding chaos and rushed to assist in subduing the bald man. Together, they managed to restrain him, disarming him of his weapon.
Despite his severe injuries and blood loss, the injured Good Samaritan assured his friends that he was fine. Across the road, police officers handcuffed the 32-year-old assailant, who was later arrested for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. Meanwhile, the 46-year-old man who came to the rescue sustained minor injuries and was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The assailant, also injured to a lesser extent, declined medical attention.
According to Shin Min’s report, the bald man and the woman involved in the incident were housemates residing in different rooms. The man had previously expressed romantic interest in the woman, but his advances were deemed harassment, leading to a souring of their relationship prior to the violent encounter. The Good Samaritan, who bravely stepped in to save the woman, is known to her as a friend.
Eyewitness Li Kui recalled the moment when the subdued assailant turned to the 46-year-old man and uttered, “Brother, my life is over.” He further expressed regret, stating that the man should not have tried to protect the woman.
