SecCom officer Sgt Emily Chan went beyond the call of duty to resuscitate an unconscious man at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre.
By: Hoon Jeng Jee
As a Personal Security Officer with the Security Command (SecCom), Sergeant (Sgt) Emily Chan is no stranger to high-pressure situations.
Since joining SecCom in March 2025, Sgt Chan safeguards foreign dignitaries and political office holders and is often on duty at high-profile events like international conferences.
“Every day presents a new situation or risk profile to manage, and I appreciate how dynamic the SecCom role is,” Sgt Chan shared.
But it was an unexpected, off-duty moment that would test her training in the most personal and urgent way.
Off-Duty, Not Off Alert
On the evening of 1 June 2025, an off-duty Sgt Chan was enjoying her dinner alone at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre after playing hockey with her friends at a neighbourhood pitch.
As Sgt Chan was leaving the hawker centre, she noticed an anxious woman who was looking around urgently.
“We made eye contact and she approached me to ask whether I knew where the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was,” recalled Sgt Chan. “When I asked what had happened, she told me a man had fainted upstairs.”
After advising the woman to locate the nearest AED through the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) myResponder app, Sgt Chan immediately rushed to the upper level of the hawker centre.
At least 50 people were gathered in front of a stall. As Sgt Chan approached, she saw an unconscious man lying face down, dressed in an orange T-shirt, khaki bermudas and slippers.
“When I checked his vital signs, he was unresponsive and had no detectable pulse,” Sgt Chan recalled.
This was the first time Sgt Chan had encountered an unconscious person, but she was prepared.
Before joining SecCom, Sgt Chan served as a Ground Response Force officer at Bishan Neighbourhood Police Centre for six years, where she built up her operational experience. She’d also undergone an intensive training programme for emergency medical response to prepare for her role in SecCom.
“We’re trained to act decisively under pressure – whether it’s making a situational risk assessment or responding to cases of emergency care and trauma,” Sgt Chan shared.
Her instincts kicked in and she began performing CPR on the man. “I knew I had to act fast – there was no room for hesitation,” Sgt Chan recalled. “There was no distinction between being on or off duty. What mattered was that a life was at risk, and thanks to my training, I had the knowledge and ability to assist.”
As the crowd looked on in concern, voices began to rise – some whispering, others expressing fear – but Sgt Chan stayed laser-focused. Though she was aware of the murmurs around her, they faded into the background, a distant hum at the edge of her concentration.
“At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about anything except doing what needed to be done,” Sgt Chan shared. “There was a sense of urgency but also calmness – it was like tunnel vision; I was focused on keeping him alive.”
Sgt Chan continuously performed chest compressions on the man until several members of the public brought over an AED. She then applied the defibrillator pads to the man and administered one shock to him.
The man gasped and began breathing shallowly.
A wave of relief ran through the crowd. Sgt Chan watched over the man until SCDF paramedics arrived on the scene and conveyed him to hospital.
A Renewed Commitment
Twelve days later, Sgt Chan was informed by the SCDF that the man had survived.
“It felt like a weight had been lifted,” she recounted. “In moments like that, you don’t always know what the outcome will be.”
The incident also reinforced Sgt Chan’s call to serve and protect the community.
“Being a Police officer is not just a job – It’s a commitment to step forward when others hesitate and always be ready to help.” – Sgt Emily Chan
For her swift actions, Sgt Chan received the Community Lifesaver Award from the SCDF on 4 July 2025. She was among 27 individuals who received Community Lifesaver and Community First Responder Awards that day.
“This award isn’t just for me,” Sgt Chan shared. “I see it as a recognition of the training all Police officers go through and our commitment to serve others, on or off duty. I hope it also encourages more people to learn basic life-saving skills, because you never know when you might need them!”
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