Former technician who lost hands and legs to GBS: I don't think I’m the most pitiful

Lianhe Zaobao
29 March 2017

It has been almost two years since former technician Tan Whee Boon, 52, lost all his limbs to a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria infection. Since then, he had gone full circle from being depressed with his loss, to finding a new purpose in life in various activities including wheelchair rugby.

After being discharged from the hospital, Mr Tan had locked himself at home for 2 months.

"I felt I didn't know what I was thinking the whole time, I was very depressed," recalls Mr Tan. It was through his new found faith that Mr Tan regained the confidence to face life once again. Now, Mr Tan has no qualms eating raw fish - the dish that had caused the infection. He says laughingly, "I have nothing to fear now, I'm lucky to be alive."

In the fifth episode of Lianhe Zaobao's "The Newsmaker", Mr Tan Whee Boon takes us through the ups and downs he had gone through before coming to terms with his disability. He also shares how he feels being awarded with a new lease of life, through his involvement in Singapore's wheelchair rugby team.

About "The Newsmaker":

"The Newsmaker" (封面人物) is one of 10 SPH-produced short form digital video series as part of a pilot Public Service Broadcast initiative. In this 13-part series, people who have made news headlines in the past share with the host Fred Lai (Content Producer, Chinese Media Group Digital) how the news events changed their lives and how they have been coping since then. All episodes come with English subtitles. This series is also available on the zaobao.sg website and mobile app.