{"id":25816,"date":"2026-01-05T05:38:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T21:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25816"},"modified":"2026-01-05T05:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T21:38:40","slug":"singaporean-of-the-year-finalist-young-community-first-responder-has-helped-over-70-since-he-was-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25816","title":{"rendered":"Singaporean of the Year finalist:\u00a0Young community first responder has helped over 70 since he was 16"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Among his friends, community first responder <!-- -->Darryl<!-- --> Lee, 20, has earned the nickname \u201cBatman\u201d for his late-night heroics.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Since becoming a first responder to\u00a0alerts for medical assistance\u00a0at 16, Mr\u00a0Lee has responded\u00a0to calls at any hour of the day, including <!-- -->in the middle of the night <!-- -->at 3am or 5am.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cMost of the time, I am already asleep. But when the alert sounds, I will just accept (the request) and go,\u201d the second-year nursing student at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee has\u00a0responded to 77 calls for assistance, which included 65 cardiac arrests\u00a0on the myResponder app. The app, launched by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), alerts community first responders of cardiac arrest cases or minor fires nearby through a distinct blaring alarm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Other times, he stops what he is doing, be it <!-- -->eating<!-- --> his meal or hanging out with friends, to respond to a case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI always brace myself for whenever the alert comes,\u201d said Mr Lee, who carries a first aid kit with him at all times.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He is usually at home when the myResponder alert sounds. The cases he responds to are within 800m of where he is. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Poly student responded to 60+ cardiac arrest cases | Singaporean of the Year 2025 finalist\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d98AyR75d50?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">As it is crucial to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and perform defibrillation within the first six minutes of a cardiac arrest case, he runs to try to reach the person in distress within three to four minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee is a finalist for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award,\u00a0which is\u00a0given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Singaporean of the Year\u00a0Award, now in its 11th year, is organised by The Straits Times, and presented by UBS Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Helping others is a value that has been deeply ingrained in Mr Lee by his parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cSince young, my parents taught me to be respectful and helpful to others,\u201d Mr Lee said, sharing how his mother would step forward to help children lost in public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Witnessing his parents\u2019 kindness made him \u201calways want to help someone in need\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">His mother works in an administrative role, while his father works in the food and beverage industry. Mr Lee also has\u00a0an older sister.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">When he was 12, he was inspired by local police drama series C.L.I.F., which featured SCDF and police officers regularly helping people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">His interest in joining nursing solidified after he attended a three-day healthcare elective module in 2021, as a Secondary 4 student at Bukit View Secondary School.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cLearning about healthcare helps me in my everyday life, and (allows me) to pass the knowledge on to my friends and family,\u201d Mr Lee said. \u201cI like to share my knowledge so that others know what to do in times of crisis, and they do not just panic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">After graduation, he will pursue an additional diploma in paramedic science at NYP<!-- --> <!-- -->under the SCDF Home Team sponsorship award. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/e1aaeb21e24dc8f077c8aef9acb45305a304449d646ae61f9bcff8e812c585c5?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/e1aaeb21e24dc8f077c8aef9acb45305a304449d646ae61f9bcff8e812c585c5?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/e1aaeb21e24dc8f077c8aef9acb45305a304449d646ae61f9bcff8e812c585c5?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/e1aaeb21e24dc8f077c8aef9acb45305a304449d646ae61f9bcff8e812c585c5\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">After graduation, Mr Darryl Lee will pursue an additional diploma in paramedic science at NYP under the SCDF Home Team sponsorship award.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee still gets an adrenaline rush whenever the alert sounds. \u201cYou never know what to expect until you reach the scene,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Although the alert might classify a case as cardiac arrest, Mr Lee said that there have been instances where the patient is unconscious from having a seizure. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThere are also cases where it is clear that the patient has already passed away a while ago. So maybe the body has stiffened up, or the skin colour has already started to change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThese cases make me think about what I can do better, or if there is anything other than comfort that I can bring to the family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">To keep himself calm and prepared for any situation, Mr Lee has a list of questions in his head to help him assess the situation quickly. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For instance, he notes how many people are around to help out and if the patient needs to be moved to a more spacious place to do CPR.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee said he knows not to blame himself for every unsuccessful resuscitation attempt, as first responders are limited in their capabilities to help someone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Instead, he focuses his energy on reflecting about what he has done well and things that could have been better, so that he is better prepared to help the next patient.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Most of the first responders he meets are working adults, and Mr Lee hopes to encourage more young people to step forward and become a first responder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWhen you are young, you have more strength, and you have the ability to do CPR for a longer period without being tired,\u201d he said. He adds that it is an important skill to have because \u201ccardiac arrests can happen <!-- -->any time<!-- -->\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He remembers a case that happened at midnight in August 2023, when he attended to a middle-aged man who had suffered a cardiac arrest at home. SCDF arrived and sent the unconscious man to the hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lee only found out the man survived two weeks later when he spotted him having a meal at a coffee shop. It did not matter that the man did not recognise Mr Lee, who said he was still glad that he was able to make an impact on someone\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt warms my heart to see the patients I helped be able to walk on their own again,\u201d he said. \u201cIt really means a lot that our small efforts can make a really big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-16 p-16 tablet:p-24 border border-default nested-element rounded-md break-words tablet:break-normal\" data-testid=\"nested-elements-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year (SOTY) is an award that is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award seeks to honour a Singaporean or Singapore organisation that has made a positive impact beyond our borders, contributing to Singapore\u2019s global reputation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They must have delivered a project, initiative, or body of work that benefitted a community or country outside of Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award seeks to recognise a young Singaporean, who is under 18-years-old, who has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness and\/or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><b>The Awards are organised by The Straits Times, and are presented by UBS Singapore. The official airline partner is Singapore Airlines, and the global hotel partner is Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR).\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Award recipient receives <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">$20,000 cash<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One pair of Singapore Airlines business class tickets for each individual\/group, up to three pairs of tickets for the winning group<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for the winning group<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Finalist receives<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">$5,000 cash for each individual\/group<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One pair of Singapore Airlines economy class tickets for each individual\/group, up to a maximum of three pairs for each group of finalists<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for each finalist.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Award recipient receives $20,000 cash<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Award recipient receives $5,000 cash<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A pair of SIA Economy Class tickets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019\u00a0properties globally<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/singaporean-of-the-year-finalist-young-community-first-responder-has-helped-over-70-since-he-was-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Among his friends, community first responder Darryl Lee, 20, has earned the nickname \u201cBatman\u201d for his late-night heroics.\u00a0 Since becoming a first responder to\u00a0alerts for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25816\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}