Singaporean in coma dies after being medically evacuated from Tokyo

An elderly man died shortly after arriving back in Singapore on Tuesday (May 2) after being medically evacuated from Tokyo thanks to crowdfunding.

Mr Jimi Cheong, 62, had gone to Tokyo for a holiday with his family when he suffered a cardiac arrest on April 19 and slipped into a coma.

Ms Eileen Cheong, 25, his daughter, started crowd-funding to bring her father back to Singapore, reports The Straits Times.

She did so after MSIG, his travel insurers, said they were "unlikely to have a successful claim as his collapse was attributable to a pre-existing heart condition".

$250,000 was raised through Give.Asia in a few days, along with some private donations.

An update was posted at about 7pm on Give.Asia yesterday (May 2). 

Ms Cheong said while they were on their way to the hosital, her father went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance.

She wrote: "It really saddens me and my mom to have to write this.

"Shortly after our arrival in Singapore today, my dad went into a cardiac arrest in the ambulance whilst we were on the way to the hospital.

"He passed away shortly after."

She added that an emergency evacuation with EMA Global was arranged after her father was certified stable and suitable for air travel on April 30.

However, his heart condition suddenly deteriorated after the transfer from the air ambulance.

"Even though we were aware of the unpredictability of his condition, his passing still comes as a shock to my family now," Ms Cheong wrote.

"Despite all of this, we are grateful that he still made it back home eventually.

"Thank you for bringing my father back to Singapore, thank you for allowing us to say our final goodbyes on home ground.

"And thank you, to my relatives and close friends, who have been by my side throughout."

Ms Cheong said she and her friends will provide more updates via Give.Asia on matters relating to the campaign, such as how the donations are being utilised.