94-Year-Old Man Found Dead in Toa Payoh Flat After Neighbours Reported Foul Smell

Living alone in a one-room flat in Toa Payoh, a 94-year-old man hadn’t been seen by his neighbours in about two weeks. Days before, residents noticed a foul smell emanating from his unit, with no response to knocks on his door. On Wednesday, October 4, around 1 p.m., police entered the flat at Block 54, Toa Payoh Lorong 5, discovering the man’s decomposed body, reported Shin Min Daily News.

A neighbour, Kamis, 31, recounted how he hadn’t seen the elderly resident for some time, although they often exchanged greetings. Four days before the discovery, Kamis noticed an unpleasant odor from the man’s flat. With the smell intensifying, he alerted authorities. When police arrived, they cordoned off the corridor, and the odour was noticeable from the lift lobby.

Another neighbour, surnamed Wang, mentioned that the man once spoke about having children, although none were ever seen visiting. Other residents described the elderly man as quiet, kind, and of slim build, noting he had worked at a fast-food restaurant in his younger years. The tragedy of his passing alone saddened neighbours, some reflecting on the isolation he seemed to have experienced.

In response to inquiries from AsiaOne, police confirmed they received a call on October 4 at 10:40 a.m. and that the elderly man was found unresponsive in his flat, where he was pronounced dead. Preliminary investigations suggest no foul play, and authorities are continuing their inquiries.