Bugis Junction escalator accident: Man treated for toe injury

A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after his foot was caught in an escalator at Bugis Junction.

The accident happened at about 9.15pm on Wednesday at an escalator leading from the basement to the first storey of the shopping mall.

He was stuck for about half an hour, witnesses said.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was informed to help release the man's foot from the escalator using hydraulic rescue tools.

He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, SCDF said.

The man, 27, was treated for a toe injury at the hospital, Ivy Ang, general manager of Bugis Junction, said.

"Our staff have visited the shopper and we will continue to be in touch to provide him with the necessary support," she added.

Passers-by took videos and photos of the accident.

Tim Maohuan, 33, was shopping with his wife at level two of the mall when he noticed a queue building up at the escalator.

He saw three young men holding the man whose foot was trapped. The latter looked calm but worried, he said.

"One of the teenagers asked him to remove his jacket and later his tie, to make him feel more comfortable," Mr Tim, a flight attendant, told The Straits Times.

Two security guards came over and they tried with the young men to pull the man's foot out but failed, he noted.

Mr Tim then called the SCDF, which responded within 10 minutes.

"Nobody expected this to happen, it showed that anybody can be exposed to this risk," he said.

His video, shared on Stomp, showed SCDF officers surrounding the man, who was in a white shirt.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/tim.maohuan/videos/10154557281420446/?permPage=1[/embed]

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/tim.maohuan/videos/10154557297415446/?permPage=1[/embed]

He was sitting in an awkward position while a young man appeared to be supporting him as he went through the ordeal.

When he was successfully rescued, the crowd at the scene applauded.

Read also: Boy's toes get caught in escalator at Toa Payoh Hub

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SCDF added that it sent one fire engine, a Red Rhino, one ambulance and one support vehicle to the scene.

Ms Ang said the mall is now checking that its escalators are "functioning well and meet safety requirements".

"The safety of our shoppers is of paramount importance to us.

"We are currently investigating the cause of the incident and will take the necessary actions to prevent a recurrence," she added.

chuimin@sph.com.sg

Read also: 3-year-old boy's genitals caught in escalator in Malaysia

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