OCBC Cycle Singapore — Spectrum Worldwide and OCBC race
SINGAPORE — Event organisers and sponsors of this year’s OCBC Cycle Singapore — Spectrum Worldwide and OCBC — are working with the relevant authorities on investigations pertaining to the accident on Sunday morning that left a participant in critical condition after he sustained serious head injuries.
National serviceman Chia Wee Kiat fractured his skull when he fell early in his 59km ride and underwent 13 hours of surgery to remove blood clots in his brain.
With investigations still ongoing, Chia’s family has said they do not want any visitors apart from those who know the 24-year-old personally.
Said his cousin, Kelvin Tan: “His condition is still critical, and the 48 hours (after his operation) is crucial, then the doctors will decide on the next step. This period may or may not be extended.
“We are all praying for him. Currently, our minds are not on the speculations regarding his accident that we know are happening, nor with pursuing the matter and blaming the event organisers.”
Both Spectrum and OCBC have declined further comment, although they said they expected to receive traffic monitoring footage yesterday from the Land Transport Authority. Said Chris Robb, Managing Director of Spectrum Worldwide: “There are no significant developments as of now, and we want to respect the family’s privacy.”
Chia’s accident triggered an outpouring of displeasure with the event organisers on social media, with people some calling into question the organisers’ accounts of the medical response.
Close to 100 netizens have taken to the event’s Facebook page to voice their discontentment with the inadequate safety measures. Several commented that the plastic cones that served as dividers were inappropriate and that larger-sized barriers should have been used instead. Others noted that road marshals were not deployed at the appropriate places or were not doing their job.
This is not the first time that Spectrum Worldwide has come under fire from the public. A fault in their Chronotrack timing system caused 3,782 participants at the Standard Chartered Marathon last year to receive inaccurate timings or to be wrongly disqualified.
The OCBC Cycle Singapore this year — the sixth instalment — drew nearly 12,000 participants across its nine categories. A total of 84 marshals were stationed, including six doctors, 12 nurses, 16 medics, 10 equipped ambulances, and nine fast-response paramedics on motorbikes.
source from http://www.todayonline.com/sports/family-injured-cyclist-wants-privacy