SAF regular dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool
A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular died on 9 August 2025 after being found unconscious at the Hendon Camp swimming pool in Changi. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later at Changi General Hospital.
- An SAF regular was found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool at 7.15am on 9 August 2025.
- CPR and AED were administered immediately, and he was evacuated to Changi General Hospital.
- Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at 7.44am; MINDEF is assisting the family.
A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular died on 9 August 2025 after being found unconscious at the Hendon Camp swimming pool in Changi, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a statement issued the same day.
The incident occurred at around 7.15am. The serviceman was believed to have been training alone at the time, according to preliminary information from the ministry.
When he was discovered, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an automated external defibrillator (AED) were administered immediately.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were alerted to the case shortly after.
The SAF serviceman was evacuated to Changi General Hospital in an SCDF ambulance, where resuscitation efforts continued during the journey.
Upon arrival, medical teams at the hospital continued attempts to revive him, but despite these efforts, he was pronounced dead at 7.44am.
In its statement, MINDEF said that the SAF “extends its deepest condolences to the family of the serviceman” and that the ministry “is rendering assistance to the family during this time of grief”.
No further details have been released regarding the serviceman’s identity or the cause of death, pending ongoing investigations.
Hendon Camp, located in Changi, serves as the base of the SAF’s elite Commando formation. The camp is known for its specialised training facilities, which include the swimming pool where the incident occurred.
The Ministry of Defence has not indicated whether training activities at the camp have been suspended pending investigation. However, such safety reviews are typically conducted following any training-related fatality in the SAF.
The SAF has been working to enhance training safety protocols in recent years, particularly after a series of high-profile incidents between 2018 and 2019 prompted a comprehensive review of operational and physical training practices.
While the current incident’s cause remains undetermined, the SAF and MINDEF have reaffirmed their commitment to upholding stringent safety measures in all training environments.
The death marks the first reported training-related fatality in the SAF in 2025.
