87-year-old man's head stuck between 2 water pipes for 18 hours after fall in toilet
An 87-year-old man got his head stuck between two water pipes in a toilet after a fall at home, leaving him trapped for 18 hours, reported Shin Min Daily News.
He was only freed when his friend, who had been unable to reach him on the phone, went to his flat to check on him.
The man was then taken to hospital, where he is receiving treatment.
Trapped for 18 hours
The man, who only wished to be known as Mr Wu (transliterated), lives alone and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
On Nov 27 at around 10pm, he fell in the bathroom of his flat at Block 96 Aljunied Crescent and toppled head-first into the gap between two water pipes.
As he did not have enough strength to move, Mr Wu was unable to lift his head out of the gap, and there was no one else at home to help him.
It was only around 3.30pm the next day when a friend realised something was amiss, after repeatedly failing to reach Mr Wu by phone.
The friend, who only wished to be known as Mr Lee, is Mr Wu's former neighbour. He holds a key to his flat and visits him two to three times a week.
Man had heavy bleeding from ear
According to Mr Lee's account of the incident to Lin Sheng Lai (transliteration), the general affairs officer at the Cheng Hong Welfare Association, he arrived at Mr Wu's flat at around 3.40pm and found no one in his room.
Upon entering the toilet, he found Mr Wu lying on the floor with his head trapped between the two pipes. He was bleeding heavily from his right ear, and appeared semi-conscious with his eyes closed.
Mr Lee said he spoke to him while placing a towel under his face, and slowly pulled his head out before calling for an ambulance.
In response to Stomp's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that it received a call for assistance on Nov 28 at around 3.50pm and conveyed one person to Changi General Hospital.
