28-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) Ms Nur Aisyah Md Akbar, a 39-year-old Singaporean woman, was fondly remembered by her loved ones as warm, generous, and passionate about animals. Tragically, she passed away on December 22 after falling from a 30-meter cliff in a state park in New York.
Ms Nur Aisyah’s body, accompanied by her husband, Mr Abdul Rauf Mohd Said, 41, was flown back to Singapore on a Singapore Airlines flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.
The couple co-founded Noble Sky International, a real estate investment company with a focus on the United States.
Upon their arrival in Singapore on December 27, the body was taken to their home in Jalan Loyang Besar for final rites before being laid to rest at the Pusara Aman Muslim cemetery in Choa Chu Kang.
Over 200 people attended the funeral, where Mr Abdul Rauf, despite his grief, comforted his 10-year-old son Yusoff Aidan, the younger of two children from his first marriage.
Mr Abdul Rauf declined to speak to the media.
Speaking to reporters after the funeral, Ms Gabrielle Pereira, Mr Abdul Rauf’s sister, described Ms Nur Aisyah as a positive person who was warmly embraced by the family.
“Everyone fell in love with her immediately. Even my mum, who is difficult to please, fell in love with her too,” said the 30-year-old real estate agent.
Ms Pereira shared that her sister-in-law was actively involved in various charitable activities, with a particular focus on animal welfare. She would often rescue animals of all kinds, including cats, birds, and dogs.
“She even left me a text message a week before she passed, saying there was a moth in their house that she was going to rescue,” said Ms Pereira.
Addressing online comments questioning why her brother did not attempt to rescue his wife or suggesting foul play, Ms Pereira explained that Mr Abdul Rauf had been questioned by authorities in New York. The authorities reviewed photos and videos taken by the couple leading up to the incident and concluded that there was no foul play involved.
“They wouldn’t have let him come home otherwise,” Ms Pereira remarked.
On December 24, Ms Nur Aisyah and Mr Abdul Rauf were at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve when she slipped and fell off the cliff. Mr Abdul Rauf shared on Facebook that his wife was still breathing when a passing family came to their aid and helped locate her. She was subsequently airlifted by a helicopter but sadly succumbed to her injuries at Ellenville Regional Hospital, approximately 19 kilometers from the park, according to a statement by the New York State Police on December 26.
Investigations into the incident are still ongoing, as the police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragic fall.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve has seen other fatalities resulting from falls in the past. In 2021, a 24-year-old man died after falling approximately 30 meters while hiking in the park.
Ms Pereira expressed her main concern for her brother’s well-being during this difficult time.
“He lost his partner, his best friend,” she said. “I just hope he will find the strength to persevere through this hardship because I know it’s not going to be easy for him.”
