A Singaporean man with cerebral palsy<\/a> \u2014 whose brother carried him up the steep steps of Batu Caves almost every Thaipusam \u2014 has died aged 42.<\/p>\n Suresh Vanaz shared the heartbreaking news of his younger brother, Gunaseelan<\/a>, on Facebook on Aug 30.<\/p>\n In a post, Suresh said Gunaseelan had \u201cpassed away peacefully”.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI am deeply saddened by this sudden loss, and words cannot express the pain of losing my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Suresh said Gunaseelan would \u201calways hold a special place\u201d in his heart and that he would forever cherish the memories they shared.<\/p>\n He also asked family and friends to keep him and his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers.<\/p>\n \u201cMay my beloved brother\u2019s soul rest in eternal peace,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SURESH VANAZ\/FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Suresh told Stomp that his brother would be \u201cvery happy to see friends around him\u201d at his funeral.<\/p>\n Speaking to Stomp over the phone, Suresh shared that he had taken his brother to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, two days ago on Aug 28.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a chill-out session, we had good food, it was alright,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n On Aug 29, Gunaseelan developed a slight fever, which Suresh said was \u201cnormal and routine\u201d for him.<\/p>\n At around 5pm, the 42-year-old suffered a seizure, and Suresh promptly administered his medication.<\/p>\n However, the older brother realised something was wrong when Gunaseelan\u2019s breathing grew more \u201ceffortful\u201d \u2014 something he had not heard before.<\/p>\n To comfort his younger brother, Suresh picked him up and cradled him against his chest, much like in many of the pair\u2019s photos shared online.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a few seconds later (at around 6.35pm), he stopped breathing,\u201d Suresh said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe died on my chest,\u201d he added, choking up over the phone.<\/p>\n According to a doctor who visited Suresh\u2019s home shortly after, Gunaseelan\u2019s cause of death was pneumonia.<\/p>\n Following his death, the family informed his loved ones, who gathered promptly at their home to pay their last respects.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SURESH VANAZ\/FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n The pair previously made headlines in February 2025 when Suresh spoke about his tradition of carrying Gunaseelan up the steps of Batu Caves<\/a> in Selangor during Thaipusam.<\/p>\n At the time, Suresh, then 46, said caring for his younger brother was a privilege rather than a duty. “Taking care of him, making sure he’s happy \u2014 that is my offering,” he told New Straits Times.<\/p>\n The brothers had planned to return to Batu Caves that year, but ended up celebrating Thaipusam in Singapore instead.<\/p>\n Suresh also spoke about his wish to help Gunaseelan experience more of the world. “He wants to see the world, Phuket, Europe and such. I want to make that happen,” he said.<\/p>\n He had previously taken Gunaseelan to India, where he carried his brother for much of their 11-day trip.<\/p>\n “By the time we got home, I was completely drained,” he said.<\/p>\n Despite the physical demands of caring for his brother, Suresh said he wanted Gunaseelan to experience life as fully as possible.<\/p>\n “I just want him to experience life without limits, the way any other person would.”<\/p>\n In late 2024, Suresh was involved in an altercation at a lift lobby in Vivocity<\/a> while trying to move Gunaseelan, who was in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n He said he had become angry after other people allegedly blocked his way as he tried to pull his brother\u2019s wheelchair out of the lift.<\/p>\n He had spoken to Rice Media<\/a> in 2025 to share his struggles as a single caregiver taking on three jobs to care for Gunaseelan. In the interview, he said that the Vivocity incident had \u201ctriggered something in (him)\u201d and was a \u201cturning point\u201d.<\/p>\n He also called for more respect for caregivers and those who face physical challenges.<\/p>\n Suresh was also involved in a separate altercation at KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru<\/a> in December 2025, which did not involve Gunaseelan.<\/p>\n Three Singaporeans from a family were charged with intentionally causing hurt, while Suresh was charged with voluntarily causing hurt.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: The story was updated to include Suresh\u2019s comments.<\/em><\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Scroll to continue reading<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>
\u2018He died on my chest\u2019<\/h2>\n
<\/picture><\/div>
Suresh carried brother up Batu Caves almost yearly<\/h2>\n
Challenges of caregiving<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Stomp](\"https:\/\/www.stomp.sg\/assets\/stomp-comment-COLiWNMD.png\")
<\/p>\n