Elderly man sleeps at void deck, showers at coffee shop -- as his Bedok flat is filled to the ceiling with rubbish
Elderly man sleeps at void deck, showers at coffee shop -- as his Bedok flat is filled to the ceiling with rubbish
Teo Yan Ting
TNP
June 9, 2025
An elderly man living alone in a rental flat in Bedok Reservoir has been sleeping on a chair at the void deck every night - because his home is so packed with clutter there's no room for him inside.
The 78-year-old, known only as Mr Lin, is believed to have a hoarding habit. He reportedly also uses the nearby coffee shop to shower, as his own bathroom is inaccessible.
Non-profit organisation Helping Joy highlighted Mr Lin's situation in a recent Facebook post, describing his unit at Block 704 Bedok Reservoir Road, as being filled "floor to ceiling" with all kinds of miscellaneous items.
The kitchen passageway was completely obstructed, and the living room was the only space left with some standing room.
The group added that there were cockroaches in the home, raising concerns about hygiene and fire safety - not just for Mr Lin, but also for his neighbours.
When Shin Min Daily News visited the flat, the front door could barely open. Debris blocked the entrance, forcing people to step directly onto the clutter to get inside.
Speaking to the paper, Mr Lin said he began picking up discarded items during the Covid-19 pandemic after he lost his job.
"It started with a few things I thought I could sell. Over time it just piled up. Some items I couldn't bear to part with," he said.
He acknowledged that his neighbours had complained about the clutter, especially items left outside his door.
"Eventually, the authorities sent people to clear the area. They threw away four large bins of stuff - even the things I had hanging outside," he recalled.
Volunteers from Helping Joy were scheduled to help him clean up his unit on June 8, but Mr Lin admitted he had wanted to postpone the clean-up.
"I'm worried they'll throw everything away. I need time to sort through it. I'm afraid I'll be left with nothing. What if I throw something out and later realise I need it?"
Neighbour Mr Peng, 78, said that while Mr Lin lives alone, he does have family. He once saw Mr Lin's daughter-in-law and grandson visit briefly during Chinese New Year - they stood outside the flat to greet him before leaving.
Mr Pang and a coffee shop employee both confirmed seeing Mr Lin using the coffee shop toilet to shower and relieve himself.
"He's in there for over 10 minutes each time," said Mr Pang.
The coffee shop employee did not report the matter, as he sympathised with Mr Lin's situation.
Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp
Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
4 people, including 2 firefighters, taken to hospital after fire in Holland Close flat
The fire being put out at Block 5 Holland Close on June 19. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG One of the bedrooms in a 23rd-floor unit was on fire, which was extinguished with two water jets. PHOTO: COURTESY OF WINSTON HO 4 people, including 2 firefighters, taken to hospital after fire in Holland Close flat SINGAPORE - Two people and two firefighters were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in an HDB flat in Holland Close on the evening of June 19. Firefighters from Alexandra Fire Station responded to the fire at Block 5 at around 7.25pm, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in a Facebook post. One of the bedrooms in a 23rd-floor unit was on fire, which was extinguished with two water jets. As a result of the fire, the rest of the unit also suffered heat and smoke damage. Two people who had evacuated from the unit were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). During the firefighting operation, two firefighters experienced heat exhaustion and were also taken to hospital - one to SGH, one to the National University Hospital - in a conscious state. Holland Drive resident Winston Ho, 50, was on his way home at around 7.20pm when he saw fire engines arriving in Holland Close. Smoke was billowing out of the affected unit, he said, adding that police officers started to cordon off the block, as broken glass was falling to the ground. The police also evacuated the block's residents to a nearby futsal court, where a roll call was conducted to account for the residents. About 100 people were evacuated from the affected block, said the SCDF. Defence Minister and Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Chan Chun Sing visited the scene to assist affected residents. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The cause of the fire is under investigation. Defence Minister and Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Chan Chun Sing visited the scene to assist affected residents. In a subsequent post on Facebook, Mr Chan said those who needed help or temporary lodgings could contact the Buona Vista Community Centre. Additional reporting by Mark Cheong Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
6 days ago
- AsiaOne
New crane tips over at Tuas Port, no injuries reported, Singapore News
A new quay crane has tipped over at Tuas Port, according to a joint statement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and port operator PSA Singapore (PSA) on Sunday (June 15). In a video of the incident shared on Facebook group Safety Watch, the fallen crane kicks up a billowing dust cloud. A person can be heard repeatedly commenting in Mandarin: "The crane has collapsed!" MPA and PSA said that the incident took place around 1.20pm on Sunday as the new crane was being delivered to a non-operational berth. "There were no injuries or fatalities," they said. "No damage has been assessed to port equipment and facilities." All of PSA's currently operation berths are fully accessible, while port operations and development works are unaffected. MPA and PSA will work with relevant authorities regarding the incident, which is under investigation, they added. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow had visited Tuas Port earlier last week where he checked on the development of Tuas port, which began in 2019. In a Facebook post last Thursday (June 12), he described the port as a "shining jewel of Singapore's maritime innovation and excellence", also sharing that it is the world's largest fully automated port. PSA currently operates 11 berths, with seven more slated for 2027, he stated. "It was fascinating to witness the automated yard in action," Siow commented. "A seamless flow of containers moved by automated guided vehicles, all under the watchful eyes of our skilled port workers, whose work often go unseen, but who are vital to keep Singapore connected to the world and our economy moving." [[nid:718791]] khooyihang@
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
Sole survivor in Air India crash and Thai singer both survive separate plane crashes from seat 11A
Mr Ruangsak Loychusak (left) and Mr Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (right) both survived separate plane crashes in 1998 and 2025, respectively, while seated in the same seat, 11A. PHOTOS: JAMESRUANGSAK/FACEBOOK, AFP The 11A seat connection: Air India crash's sole survivor and Thai singer both spared from same seat When Thai actor-singer Ruangsak Loychusak saw news of the June 12 Air India plane crash, one detail sent chills down his spine: the sole survivor had been sitting in seat 11A - the very same seat number as Mr Ruangsak 's when he survived a deadly crash nearly 27 years ago. 'Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A,' Mr Ruangsak wrote in a Facebook post, describing the eerie coincidence that has now captivated the Internet. Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12. Of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, only one - Mr Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national - made it out alive. Thrown from the aircraft during impact, Mr Vishwash, 40, suffered multiple injuries but managed to walk away from the wreckage and into a waiting ambulance. Speaking from hospital, Mr Vishwash told Indian media: 'For some time, I thought I was also going to die. But when I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive and I tried to unbuckle myself from the seat and escape from where I could.' Back in December 1998 , Mr Ruangsak was just 20 when Thai Airways Flight TG261 crashed while trying to land in Surat Thani Airport in southern Thailand. The aircraft plunged into a swamp, killi ng 101 of the 146 people onboard. Mr Ruangsak survived - and over the years, has spoken publicly about the trauma and survivor's guilt he carried. He reportedly refused to fly for nearly a decade, calling the life he's lived since a 'second life'. Now, with both he and Mr Vishwash linked by the same seat number and similar survival stories, interest in seat 11A has exploded online. But experts warn that there's no such thing as a universally 'safest seat'. 'Impossible to predict survivability based on seat' While Mr Viswash's position beside a functioning emergency exit proved critical, that won't always be the case, experts say. 'Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location,' said Mr Mitchell Fox, director at the US-based Flight Safety Foundation, in comments to Reuters. Aircraft layouts vary widely, and what's considered a good position in one configuration might not be in another. 'In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day,' said Mr Ron Bartsch, chairman of Sydney-based AvLaw Aviation Consulting. 'But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787.' Aviation safety experts remind passengers that survival often depends less on luck and more on preparedness. Listening to the safety briefing, identifying your nearest exit, and following crew instructions without delay can significantly improve your chances, they say. It may be tempting to view 11A as a miracle seat. But in the world of aviation safety, every crash is different - and survival comes down to far more than a number, experts say. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
