Drama at Simei: Man rescued after five hour standoff on fourth-floor ledge

A 29-year-old man sat on the ledge outside a fourth-storey HDB flat in Simei was rescued after a five-hour standoff on Wednesday (May 24).

The New Paper reported that it was understood that the man appeared to be drunk.

He is believed to have climbed out of the window after arguing with his girlfriend at around 10am at Block 161, Simei Road.

Mr Luo, an eyewitness who stays in the opposite block, told reporters that he called the police after he saw the man sitting on the ledge.

The ledge was reportedly less than 20cm wide.

Shin Min Daily News reported that the Singapore Police Force (SPF) had cordoned off an area the size of two basketball courts.

The man stood up on the ledge after seeing Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and SPF at the scene.

He seemed very agitated also refused to extend his arms to be pulled to safety.

The SCDF deployed a safety life air pack at the foot of the block as a safety measure.

At about 2.30pm, the man was pulled to safety after a team of rappellers from the SCDF’s Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) were also deployed along with a rescue net from the roof of the block.

The man, a technician, was later arrested for attempted suicide.