NTU student dies in Slovakia after tree falls on car
The 23-year-old student died after a tree fell on his car last Friday. (Photo: ESN VSV – TU Ostrava Facebook)
A former national athlete died after a tree fell on his car while he was driving in Slovakia on Friday (25 Nov).
According to Channel News Asia, Justin Tan Honng Tze, a 23-year-old third-year Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student, was driving in a storm when the accident happened.
A statement from NTU said Tan was on a exchange programme with the Technical University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic and was travelling in Slovakia.
Tan, who represented the Republic in sport climbing at the 2011 South East Asean Games, was driving alone when the tree crashed onto his car and hit him on the head. He was found unconscious by rescuers and was certified brain-dead on Friday.
His parents and brother flew to Slovakia to be by his side. They were accompanied by NTU’s associate chair, Professor Ooi Kim Tiow, CNA said.
NTU, in their statement said that his parents agreed to donate their son’s organs to patients in Slovakia and his body was cremated there. His ashes were brought back to Singapore, NTU added.
NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson said the university is saddened by the death of Tan, whom he described as a good student with an outgoing personality and a kind heart.
“He will be dearly missed by all who know him, and our professional counsellors from NTU will assist his fellow students in coping with the emotional impact of this tragedy,” he said.
