Social activist Kuan Chee Heng, widely known as Uncle Kentang, has expressed his deep sorrow and frustration following the tragic loss of a life that he believes could have been prevented with basic first aid knowledge.
In an emotional Facebook post shared on Thursday, 3 April, Kuan, who was en route home after assisting with another emergency, recounted the events that left him both heartbroken and angry.
Photo via Facebook (马铃薯叔叔日志 Uncle Kentang)
"I received a call asking for an ambulance," he explained, despite being physically drained. "The caller told me that a man had collapsed while playing badminton in Puchong and was still breathing."
Concerned for the man's condition, Kuan quickly headed to the scene, instructing the caller to retrieve an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from a nearby mamak stall.
When Kuan arrived 10 minutes later, the ambulance had not yet arrived. He observed a player attempting CPR on the collapsed man but noted that the compressions were not deep enough.
In an effort to save the man’s life, Kuan took over and ordered someone to open the AED kit. To his dismay, the AED had already been brought to the scene, but it was left unused on the ground.
Despite his exhaustion, Kuan continued to perform CPR and used the AED on the man until the ambulance finally arrived. He then helped load the man into the vehicle and resumed resuscitation efforts during the ride to the hospital.
By this time, the patient's wife and children had arrived, visibly distraught and pleading for him to survive. "I pressed even harder with my CPR. I knew this was a battle between life and death. I kept going as the paramedics provided oxygen and the necessary support," Kuan said.
Upon reaching the hospital, the patient was rushed into the emergency room, while Kuan, overwhelmed with exhaustion, felt faint and nauseous outside.
Sadly, later that night, at 11pm, Kuan received the heartbreaking news that the man had passed away.
昨晚发生一件事，让我感到既难过又生气…… 话说我刚协助了一名体型超重的病人，非常疲惫的正在回去的路上，有人打电话叫救护车。我告诉对方，我们的团队都有别的任务了，只剩下我和另一名员工Suhaizam。尽管如此，我还是询问了情况。对方告诉我，...
Posted by 马铃薯叔叔日志 Uncle Kentang on Wednesday 2 April 2025
Reflecting on the tragic event, Kuan questioned whether the man could have been saved had proper CPR been administered sooner or if the AED had been used in time.
He also expressed his dismay at the absence of an AED at the badminton facility and the apathy of bystanders who simply watched as the situation unfolded, with some even continuing to play the game: "Why did so many bystanders just watch instead of helping with CPR? Why did no one know how to use the AED?" Kuan asked in his post.
Kuan concluded with a heartfelt appeal to Malaysians, urging everyone to learn how to perform effective CPR and use an AED, adding that every sports facility should be equipped with one, "Whether or not his life could’ve been saved, we’ll never know. But if help had come faster and in the right way, perhaps there might have been a chance," he said.
"I'm exhausted and deeply saddened. May God bless his soul and bring comfort to his family," Kuan ended his post.
