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SINGAPORE : The two SAF servicemen warded overnight at the Intensive Care Unit of the Taipei Tri-service Hospital were flown back to Singapore on Saturday evening.
They are now warded in Singapore General Hospital, where they will continue to receive treatment for their burns and injuries.
MINDEF says the two Full-time National Servicemen, 23-year-old 3rd Sergeant Ramakrishnan Karthigayan and 19-year-old Lance Corporal Calvin Chow Han Min were brought back to Singapore by a RSAF KC-135 aircraft specially equipped for medical evacuation.
The aircraft arrived at Paya Lebar Air Base at 5.28 pm.
Members of the SAF medical team, including a burns specialist and a medical aviation expert, augmented by specialist staff and life support systems from Alexandra Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the National University Hospital, were on board the aircraft to monitor the condition of the two soldiers throughout the flight.
At the Singapore General Hospital, the families and friends of the two injured soldiers were anxiously waiting to see their loved ones.
The first to arrive at the hospital was Lance Corporal Chow.
Doctors said he suffered 50 percent burns on his body.
He also had respiratory burns.
Doctors said his condition is critical and the team is working to stabilise him.
The second casualty, 3rd Sergeant Karthigayan Ramakrishnan, has 45 percent total body surface area burns.
He has ventilator support.
Doctors said his condition is serious but stable.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean visited both servicemen at the hospital on Saturday evening.
Minister Teo also met with the relatives of the servicemen to assure them of MINDEF's and the SAF's support during this difficult time.
Sergeant Ramakrishnan Karthigayan's father said his son, a full-time National Serviceman with the infantry unit (6th SIR), left for training in Taiwan last Friday.
He was due back home next week.
Mr J Ramakrishnan's friends came to his support following news about his son's condition.
He also had regular updates from Mindef's Family Support Officer Major Joe Ronesh de Silva.
Mr J Ramakrishnan said: "I feel very grateful to the armed forces. Major Ron played a very important part, contacting me initially, updating me, even at 2am. He did everything possible, told me he'll update me. He did everything possible, even arrangements to fly us up. He also understood our request for him to be flown back to Singapore." - CNA/ch
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