Singaporean Dies of Heart Attack After Playing Badminton in JB

Joseph Tan and his wife traveled to Johor Bahru for a game of badminton at an event on Sunday (Aug 18), but tragically, he never returned to Singapore. Tan, 43, suffered a heart attack following the game, as reported by Shin Min Daily News on Tuesday.

Tan was a grassroots leader in Singapore and an active community volunteer for many years. His wife, Cai Qinyi, shared that he had discovered the international organization Toastmasters in 2022 and had since joined several groups globally to enhance his public speaking skills. Recently, he became a member of the Johor Bahru Toastmasters Club and was invited to participate in their family day event that Sunday.

“He was very excited and said he hadn’t played badminton in a long time. We set off at 6 am and played two games before he went to shower,” Cai recounted.

When Tan did not emerge from the shower room after a while, Cai went to check on him and found him unconscious on the ground. Friends administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until medical assistance arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. A heart attack was later confirmed as the cause of death.

Tan’s body was transported back to Singapore on Monday. In a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, Member of Parliament for Punggol West, Sun Xueling, expressed her shock at Tan’s passing, describing him as a loving husband and a good man.

“He volunteered at MPS regularly, mentored children, and participated in various activities to assist the lower-income community. He spoke directly, sometimes offending others, but he had a good heart,” Sun wrote. “We are doing what we can to bring him home quickly.”

Tan, inspired by his Toastmasters experience, had established a training company last year with two friends. The Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club, where he served as president, also mourned his loss on Facebook.

Cai reflected on Tan’s compassionate nature, sharing how he had undergone first aid training to operate an automatic defibrillator and perform CPR, skills he had used to save lives on multiple occasions. “He may have saved the lives of around five people, but I was helpless when it came to his,” she lamented.

Cai fondly remembered their early days as a couple, when they volunteered in the community every week. Even when she fell ill, Tan ensured she was cared for while fulfilling his volunteer commitments.

“He helped out in the MP’s meet-the-people sessions, and as a result, many residents recognized him and often turned to him for assistance with their problems. I believe he will continue to help others in a similar way on the other side,” she said.