The 19-year-old full-time national serviceman NSF, who died on Thursday December 8 in a Henderson Road flat, was the first firefighter to have died in an operation, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said in a press statement on Friday.
SCDF is deeply saddened by the death of CPL Go. He is our first colleague to have fallen during an operation. The force added that we extend our deepest condolences to his family and are providing them with our fullest support.
CPL Go was part of the first response crew to a fire at about 11.10 am on Thursday at Block 91 Henderson Road.
He fell unconscious in the kitchen area during the firefighting operation and was brought out of the unit and was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
A paramedic also used an automated defibrillator on him and was taken to Singapore General Hospital where he died.
In his statement, SCDF detailed CPL Go's training, adding that he had responded to more than 20 fire and rescue incidents.
He enlisted with SCDF to serve his National Service on January 5, and began his 12 weeks of training as a firefighter on February 3. He completed his training on April 28 and was posted to the Central Fire Station on May 4 after completing his firefighter course.
CPL Go was medically fit and assessed to be of the Physical Employment Standards PES A prior to his enlistment, said SCDF.
The force said that SCDF frontline units comprise regulars, NSFs and Operationally Ready National Servicemen ORNSmen, all of whom are trained to carry out roles as Rota Commanders, Section Commanders or Firefighters.
In a fire or rescue emergency, officers of these vocations form a composite crew to respond to the incident. Through various firefighting and rescue courses, all of the training for these different roles and responsibilities is carried out centrally at the Civil Defence Academy. The statement said that SCDF officers, like CPL Edward, put their lives on the line each time they enter the scene of a fire in order to save others.
SCDF Commissioner COMR Eric Yap said: On behalf of the SCDF, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of CPL EdwardEdward H Go.
CPL Edward was bravely carrying out his duty to save lives and property. He was a courageous firefighter who was well-liked by his supervisors and colleagues. He was very committed and dedicated to his duties.
We will always remember him, and we are very sad.