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    6-year-old boy dies in Tampines tragedy

    A six-year-old boy reportedly falls out of a window to his death in Tampines. (Yahoo! file photo)A six-year-old boy reportedly falls out of a window to his death in Tampines. (Yahoo! file photo)

    A six-year-old boy who was left home alone for the first time fell to his death on Monday morning from his flat at Tampines Street 42.

    It's believed Marson Heng, a kindergarten 2 pupil, climbed out of the kitchen window of the fifth-storey flat with the help of a laundry basket, reported The Straits Times.

    The window grilles were shut but unlocked, as the family had put the laundry out to dry.

    His mother discovered his body at the foot of the block a few minutes later when she was on her way home after running some errands.

    The police received a call at 8:55am about the fall at Block 446, Tampines Street 42. The boy suffered serious head and leg injuries and was pronounced dead 15 minutes later.

    Mrs Heng, 28, a housewife said she had left the flat at 7am to take her eight-year-old daughter for swimming lessons nearby, before going to the market to buy groceries. Marson's grandfather, who lived with the family, had gone to a coffee shop while the boy's father, Mr Heng CY had left for work.

    "He normally wouldn't wake up till 9 or 10 in the morning, as he attended kindergarten in the afternoon," said Mr Heng, 40, an aircon technician.

    Both parents had expected the boy to sleep in as the PAP Community Foundation kindergarten he attended had declared a one-day holiday after it held a sports event for the pupils on Sunday.

    "He must have been shocked that no one was at home when he woke up, so he climbed up to see if he could find us," said the boy's father, who rushed home once he got a call from the police.

    He said Marson could recognise the company van which he drove to work in MacPherson. The boy might have fallen while looking for his father's van.

    Heng added that Marson was never a difficult child to take care of. He was an active boy but was cautious of heights as he had hurt his right arm in a fall when he was three years old.

    Neighbours who knew the family described Marson as an extremely friendly child who always greeted them when he saw them along the corridor.

    "We haven't told his sister yet… Even though they fought sometimes, they were very close," said Mr Heng.

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    188 comments

    • Rich  •  1 year 1 month ago
      For family with toddler - must have window grill even kitchen. These kids are very fast climbers. Rasing kids is very stressful - your eyes need to be 100% on them. No short cut. When I bring them for swimming, I watch them for 2 full hours! Even now they are in Primary school we are always worried how they crossed the road - so to all drivers out there please slow down and watch out for these kids. We will be thankful.
      • rosli 1 year 1 month ago
        Good advised to all drivers. Cheers.
    • No Smoking  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Child left alone. Window grill not locked. It was an accident waiting to happen. The child must have been so frightened when he woke up and found himself all alone. To all parents - please do not ever do that. Feel very sad for the parents!
      • Daphne 1 year 1 month ago
        Hmm... I never lock the window grill too when i'm at home alone with my 3yr old daughter. As i know she won't and cannot climb that high at all. N i don't have to worry too as i'm always looking out for her. BUT, of cause, as she grows older, as she got the ability to climb, i will make sure i lock!
      • James 1 year 1 month ago
        If you see the grangpa what you do???
    • Dennis  •  1 year 1 month ago
      For those with kids at home.Please do not take things for granted.
      U may be surprise that so many things in your house can endanger the little ones.

      Our hearts goes to their family losing someone so precious.
      So easy to talk when u are not the ones looking after the kids day in,day out.
      Parents share the joy,the burden and the responsibilities.

      Mishaps/Accidents happens when we overlook and not careful.We are still humans.
      Pinning the blame will not solve the pain.
      Hope their family and friends help them get through their ordeal.

      They now need a bit of support and compassion.
      Remember the joy he has brought to your world.
    • Jeanie  •  1 year 1 month ago
      never leave a child alone because they're too young to know about danger.
      • Kamini 1 year 1 month ago
        Hi Jeanie,
        Agree with you.
      • Goodman Always 1 year 1 month ago
        I feel very sorry for the parents.Parents out there! no matter what please do not leave young children alone at home.Even when they are in sound sleep.You do not know when they are going to wake up.May the almighty grand this little soul pradise.My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
      • meka 1 year 1 month ago
        how stupid their parents to leave their child alone at home....what ever happed do not leave your child alone take this just for lesson...... really sad to hear that.
        and for the boy....RIP
    • cosavida  •  1 year 1 month ago
      any loss of life is a sad one, especially when the deceased is so young.
      it's probably been spoken before but for families with young children, there is a constant need to remind oneself not to take things for granted and not to take chances by leaving children unattended for an extended period of time.
    • Anparasi  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Pls don keep blaming the parents. No parents wants this to happen to their loved ones. Its the timing and lesson not to leave kids at home alone,if u have to run errands than let the child know. If u think ur child is a responsible one than trust him if not bring along with u. Let him rest in peace.
      • meka 1 year 1 month ago
        yes, but she is stupid leaving his child alone at home..then whom do we have to blame for?? the child...???
      • Jane 1 year 1 month ago
        thank GOD, my parents NEVER left me alone, but guess what, i got hit by a car when i was on d way to school, thank GOD, not serious. SO IT IS ALL FATED, i think. life & death.
    • Just Another Day  •  1 year 1 month ago
      The boy has been called early. May he RIP. A lesson to learn. One more thing - to all netizens - stop the rediculing, condemning and the negative comments about our northern neighbour when tragedies, mishaps or incidents happen there. Things don't just happen there but happen all around the world too, including here in Singapore, so we don't have to be condescending. Just learn from them. TQ & Adios.
    • Hope  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Iam so sad..controlling my tear throughout! He was only age 6, so innocent, so helpless, and frighten to see no one around! He must be in a great shock when he tripped and fall out.

      Felt so sorry for the mom, trying to rush home before her boy wakes up..but was just few minutes late! Just cannot imagine, the very first moment when she discovered her precious son's body. ...must be Shocked and heart-bleeding!

      I believed she is extremely devasted and frequently blaming herself now..so just pray and encourage her to be strong, don't do anything foolish to herself.., as she still have a girl to look after.

      It serves as a warning also to all parents...have to start talking n reminding or our young children (before age 10) do not climb up on any high furniture, just by falling off a table and hit on the head...can be fatal too!

      Of course, need not to say, leaving a child or children alone at home is never a right thing to do. But many a time, that thought of just awhile will do, should be alright......ended up all wrong!
    • mimi  •  1 year 1 month ago
      I fully agree. maybe the government should enforce that leaving a little child alone at home is a crime and punishable by law.
      This is meant for prevention so that such thing will never be repeated in future.
      Children always have curious mind, because this is their nature. The boy wanted to know how to get out of the flat and to find his parents Therefore parents should not make assumption that leaving them for only a few minutes is safe. wrong ! never leave children alone at home and anywhere else.
      • Sux 1 year 1 month ago
        then how u define "child"? 6 years old? 12 years old? 18 years old? or 21 years old. even after u define child, they will be problem soner or later, and when one died, should we be pushing it up again? or should we just labeled them at 21 years old? also what about those mentally impaired personel?

        sometimes, tragedy just cant be help. this is of course a one off basis, or else, why not ask the kindergarden to hold resposible since they declare a day off that arent suppose to be?
      • L-Pop 1 year 1 month ago
        everything and anything, ppl can somehow relate it to the govt and blame the govt. really no horse run.
      • Matahari 1 year 1 month ago
        The key is to educate parents of the danger of leaving their children at home or anywhere else alone or unattended. In the US, if this incident ever happen, the CPS would step in and they would have lost custody of the other children. The parents will be charged for negligence. In the US, the legal age to leave a child at home alone is 15 years old. True the SG govt can impose a law on that. But, we cannot rely on the govt for everything especially in this matter. As this matter does not bring $$ to the govt unlike any other law; gas tank has to be 3/4 full to enter Johor, $$ for spitting, $$ for littering, $$ for urinating in the lift etc........
    • L  •  1 year 1 month ago
      NEVER let a small kid alone at home...I ALWAYS wake up my small kid when I need go somewhere. In 5 minutes, EVERYTHING can happens. Sorry for this family, but is also irresponsability thinks that the kid WILL wake up in a certain time. That this be exemple for anothers...NEVER LET A SMALL KID ALONE AT HOME. Doesnt matter what happens...take him with u.
    • Felicia  •  1 year 1 month ago
      I am so sorry to learn about this. Perhaps all parents should do a on-going Education to young kids like telling them the safey first at home and when they go out.. In any case, child before 12 years old should be taken care of at all times and should not be leave alone at home.
    • Darren  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Poor boy!!! Each and everytime i've read a tragedy involving young little ones - My heart goes out to them. They had missed the chance of seeing themselves grow to their fullest potential and contribute greatly to society.. Neverthess, parents should NEVER have the mentality of assuming that nothing would ever happen in that short 15mins or so cos just that 15mins would drastically change a situation and you can never command the clock to turn back.. Parents ought to take more responsibilty ....SAD!!
    • Anti Affairs  •  1 year 1 month ago
      my friend saw it when he was coming out to work...the father seems very mad against his wife and blaming her and almost to hit her while the police drag him off. It was a tragic..many things need to look into it for other parents.Its a warning to all and everyone. My heart melted when saw it on the newspaper this morning.... ....
    • A Yahoo! User  •  11 months ago
      poor little boy.pooh...........
    • ducky  •  1 year 1 month ago
      when wil all parents learn ? never leave your kid alone at home.Dont expect him to be sleeping or anything.They tend to have this radar when they are being alone. How could you not lock your grill ? How hard is it to lock each time you put your laundry out and then unlock when you have to bring them in ? Poor kid die cuz of parents nelect...in some way i dont pity the parents.
    • cooler  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Sometimes it leaves some parents no choice but had to leave their kid at home just like me.
      I always practise whether home or not, all windows must be locked and key removed. No matches or lighter lying around or dangerous item like a knife could be reached by the child. This is the basic safety and some advice to some parents. .
    • Ric  •  1 year 1 month ago
      So sad! It's never safe to leave a child his age, alone at home even though if, the window grilles are locked. Hope all parents not take for granted that since the child is still sleeping, leave him alone at home for whatever reasons. Errands can run later but once a life is gone, it's gone forever.
    • Shaik SHAHUL Hameed  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Lets not bombard the parents with accusations of negligence, they knew what they were doing and had done their best..M sure they feel d loss n regret much more than we all do..its just one of those unexpected things that happen..that's why its called "accident"..

      Even if d windows were locked, what if the kid wanted to go bathroom and slips on the wet floor? Or is hungry and reaches out above cabinet and something falls?

      The only painful lesson we all can learn is no matter how smart kids are, "Never leave kids alone anywhere"
    • Why Not  •  1 year 1 month ago
      I am very sad with the situation and very upset that this has to turn our like this. Never never take things for granted. I know of some family who sometimes leave their children alone at home, thinking that they have done this before and know their children well. But they forget that they are still kids afterall. They can get distracted easily. One mistake and regrets cannot bring back their lives.
    • Jennifer  •  1 year 1 month ago
      Rest in peace boy! God's peace and strength be with your family always..