Barefoot worker’s selfless act clears road hazard, wins praise from netizens
A barefooted worker has been praised online after he was filmed clearing a dangerous road obstruction in Singapore, risking his own safety to prevent potential accidents. The video, shared by SG Road Vigilante, shows him removing a backpack and debris from a busy four-lane road. While netizens lauded his quick thinking and compassion, many also pointed out the irony that he had been riding on the back of a lorry — a reminder of the need to better protect migrant workers’ safety.
- A barefoot worker was filmed removing a backpack and debris from a busy Singapore road on Oct 16 to prevent accidents.
- The act went viral, with many praising his courage and kindness, and highlighting migrant workers’ contributions to society.
- Some commenters noted the irony that he was riding in the back of a lorry, urging better safety protections for workers.
SINGAPORE: A man’s simple yet selfless act on a busy Singapore road has moved netizens, after he was caught on camera removing a dangerous obstruction — all while barefoot and risking his own safety.
The clip, posted on Facebook page SG Road Vigilante (SGRV), shows the man stepping off the back of a stationary pickup truck before scanning for oncoming vehicles.
He then walks into the road, picks up a large backpack and debris, and carries them to the roadside to prevent any further accidents.
The video, recorded at around 6.55 pm on 16 October, was accompanied by a caption from the driver who filmed the moment.
"While driving today, I noticed a large backpack lying on the right side of the road. It was quite dangerous - one car even ran over it, causing the vehicle behind to brake suddenly.
Amid the situation, a foreign worker in front of me jumped out of his lorry without hesitation and quickly moved the backpack to the roadside, preventing any further accidents."
Netizens moved by act of courage and compassion
Comments poured in, many applauding the worker for his quick thinking and bravery.
One user wrote, “We laugh and make fun of foreign workers. Many people ignore their contributions to our society. Most of them are kind and hardworking people.”
Another said, “They’re always the first to help when accidents happen. Yet some still say they’re taking jobs from locals — when they’re doing the jobs many locals refuse to do.”
Others expressed gratitude, noting that Singapore’s comfort and infrastructure rely heavily on such workers. “Without these builders and contractors, Singapore wouldn’t have such a good standard of living. Most of the foreign workers I’ve met have big hearts,” one person commented.
Calls for better protection of migrant workers
While many celebrated his act of kindness, others noted the irony that the worker himself was seen riding in the back of a lorry — an arrangement that leaves many migrant workers vulnerable on the road.
“Kudos to this gracious act,” one netizen wrote. “But what’s truly sad is this: the same worker who ensured others’ safety was himself travelling at the back of a lorry. This should remind us that we must do better to protect their safety too.”
