14-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) A 43-year-old Singaporean man, identified as Mr. Mohamed Reza Abdul Rashid, tragically lost his life following a motorcycle accident in one of Thailand’s southern provinces on Monday. Mr. Reza had embarked on his journey from Singapore the previous night, intending to reach central Thailand, where he planned to camp.
However, his journey came to an abrupt end as the physical education teacher, riding a 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4S, failed to reach his intended destination. Thai social media posts on Monday morning appealed for information regarding his next of kin after Mr. Reza lost control of his motorcycle near the Phatthalung Province Central Stadium.
Photographs shared on Facebook depicted Mr. Reza’s vehicle lying on a grass patch, with medical staff attending to him while he wore an oxygen mask. He was subsequently rushed to Phatthalung Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
On the day of the accident, Mr. Reza had crossed the border from Malaysia into Thailand at around 6:30 am. His final Facebook post, at 7:45 am, mentioned the ongoing Iron Butt Challenge, a long-distance ride aimed at testing the endurance of motorcyclists within a specific time frame. “We are halfway through the Iron Butt Challenge. Now we have another 800km to go,” he wrote.
According to his personal website, Mr. Reza had previously completed the Iron Butt Challenge twice. The first time was in December 2014, when he rode from Hua Hin in central Thailand to Singapore, and the second time was in September 2017, from Singapore to Hua Hin. He leaves behind his wife and three children.
In a heartfelt tribute on Tuesday morning, Madam Huda Lajam, Mr. Reza’s wife, described him as “my everything” on Facebook. She expressed her love for her late husband, stating, “He was a good man, with such a kind, soft heart. He loved his children so much, too much. Family was his everything. His passion was the road… wanderlust… adventure… He died doing the thing he loved, riding on his bike.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it has been providing consular assistance to Mr. Reza’s family through the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok. They extended their condolences to the grieving family.
The motorcycling community in Singapore mourned the loss of one of their own. The Ducati Motor Club Singapore, consisting of enthusiasts of the motorcycle brand, expressed their shock and sadness in an Instagram story, describing Mr. Reza as their beloved brother and founder.
