PUBLISHED ONAugust 20, 2026 8:35 AMBYKoh Xing YingBei-Ing Wanton Noodle hawker Yeo Song Khoon has returned to work a day earlier than expected.
The 73-year-old had previously indicated that he would resume work on Aug 21, but was back at his Roxy Square stall on Thursday (Aug 20), where he was seen using a walking aid, limping noticeably and moving gingerly as he prepared for the lunchtime crowd.
Speaking to AsiaOne, Yeo said he was still experiencing pain and taking medication for his injuries but was determined to continue working.
"I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow and I don't want to go back. The doctor said that if I were to take the medications, I don't need to go for surgery," said Yeo.
Despite taking medication, Yeo said his back injury continues to affect his sleep, making it difficult for him to lie down at night.
"I have to sit up in a position that is comfortable for me to sleep. It is painful but I just bear with it," he said.
Yeo was allegedly shoved to the ground by a male customer at the coffee shop in Roxy Square on Aug 15 after patting the customer's young daughter's head.
According to earlier social media posts by Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle, the man later apologised and offered to buy Yeo a drink, saying he had been "overprotective".
Yeo subsequently told Chinese-language media that he had simply found the girl "very cute" and did not intend to cause trouble.
Days after the incident, the hawker was reportedly diagnosed with a fractured back following a medical examination. His family also told 8days that doctors had recommended spinal surgery as the best treatment option, although Yeo has since opted to continue with medication.
The case sparked widespread discussion, and even caught the attention of former president Halimah Yacob, who shared that she used to pat children on the head as a gesture of affection and called for stronger intergenerational bonds in Singapore.
When AsiaOne asked Yeo if the man involved in the incident had returned to apologise, Yeo said he had not heard from him since that day.
Police have since identified a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident and investigations are ongoing.
The case has also sparked intense online speculation, with some netizens attempting to identify the man and his wife through personal details and photographs shared online.
In a media advisory issued on Aug 19, police urged members of the public to refrain from speculating about the incident or its circumstances and to allow investigations to run their course.
On his first day back at work, AsiaOne observed numerous gifts from customers. Many members of the public also visited the stall to wish Yeo well and check on him.
"I am thankful to have people who come by to visit and bring gifts for me. Even an old customer, Noah Yap, came to see me," said Yeo.
Among those who visited was 36-year-old interior designer Jing Jing, who has known Yeo and his family for about 20 years.
"I have known Yeo for a long time as I previously worked in the area and have continued visiting the stall since," said the mother of one, who brought health tonics for Yeo to wish him a speedy recovery.
Following the incident, Jing Jing said she contacted Yeo's son to check on the elderly stall owner.
"My parents are also not young, so even a small fall makes me worried about them. Moreover, Yeo already had underlying health issues, so it is more difficult for him," said Jing Jing.
She also highlighted the importance of connections between younger and older generations, adding that her child also shares a close bond with his great-grandparents.
"Even my son is very close to his great-grandparents, and I am sure he would be comfortable around elderly people outside the family too," she said.
"They like to pat him on the head as a form of affection. It is just a subtle act - it's not like they are hugging or kissing."
Another customer, 17-year-old Liang Tze, said he was studying for his exams but decided to make a trip to the food court to show his support for Yeo.
When asked about his thoughts on the incident, Liang Tze said he felt the father's reaction was excessive.
"The dad was protective of the child, and that's not wrong. But the man's actions could have been less severe or violent," he said, noting that patting a child's head was traditionally a common gesture among older generations to show affection.
While Liang Tze understood that the child's father may have been acting protectively, he felt that the subsequent reaction was excessive.
"I stayed with my grandparents when I was young and I still do. I feel that we need to treasure them because Singapore wouldn't be possible without the older generation," he said.
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xingying.koh@asiaone.com
