I really admire
Christina's
strong will
to live -- she's
a real survivor!
The Straits Times, March 19, 1986
For 2½ days, bank clerk Christina Phua Chiou Fang (above) lay buried under a mountain of rubble. Then at about 9 pm on Monday, Christina, 21, and her colleague at the Industrial Commercial Bank, Miss Boh Gee Cheng, 20, were rescued. Christina emerged with nothing more than a black left eye -- and still full of spirit. As she lay in her hospital bed, with several baskets of flowers around her, she spoke of her third brush with death. This is her story:
ABOUT AN HOUR after I started work at 9 am, Boh and I went to look at a huge crack in the car park which a customer had pointed out to us. There were people there using wood to prop up the floors.
I didn't think anything more of it until 11.20 am, 10 minutes before closing time, when I was balancing the money for the day.
Everything started to shake. There was a cracking sound. I looked out at Serangoon Road and a wall came crashing down. I shouted for my friend. I heard Cheong (Mr Cheong Cheng Guan was rescued on Monday at 1.55 pm) shout for help.
Soon after, Mr Lee and Mr Leong (two other colleagues) shouted to me to remove the rocks. I told them I couldn't.
To remain conscious, I breathed slowly. I shouted to Mr Lee and Mr Leong to do the same. They couldn't remain at peace with themselves. Soon I heard them shouting "throw me in the sea". They made phone calls and talked to themselves, they asked for a taxi, they asked for change…
It was pitch dark. I couldn't see a thing, not even my finger placed right in front of my eyes. I could touch a slab of concrete above which separated me from Cheong. Two tables supported by a wall blocked me off from Sim (Mr Albert Sim Liang Luak was rescued at 9.30 pm on Monday).
Periodically, Boh, Sim and I would call out "Help, Help." But no one seemed to hear us. They were too far away. I listened to the hammering and chopping. It went on and on and didn't seem to get any nearer.
I told myself I am alive and was determined to get out to show my parents I was truly alive. Boh and I put our legs on each other to make contact and also to keep moving while lying flat on our backs.
The smell of gas was awful. I felt around. There was steel, metal, tables, concrete slabs and a half bottle of Tiger Oil. We girls often keep it in our desks and it was sheer luck that one landed near me. No one else wanted it. They didn't like the smell. I put it on my head and nose. Soon there was none left.
Boh and I shouted for help again. Nothing happened. I closed my eyes, but was still alert. I was too scared to sleep -- the rescuers might miss me.
Boh and I had an equally crazy chat. I told her maybe there was no insurance cover for us and that's maybe why they won't save us.
I also said: "No other job, no work, no pay, long leave." I later said: "We do not have to work, the company will have to pay us."
Cheong said he heard this conversation. We also discussed whether it was the whole building that collapsed or just half of it.
"It's the first time something like this has happened. Do they know how to deal with type of disaster?" I asked Boh.
I never heard any moaning or groaning, but Cheong did. I also told Boh about my previous brush with death. Once when I was struck by lightning, three others died, I escaped. About five years ago, a few people were injured in an accident, I escaped.
This time I was going to get out alive.
We all cried on and off. It helped keep my contact lens moist. At no stage did I think I was going to die.
We heard a lot of knocking and drilling. It got closer. I responded to a call when I spotted a torchlight.
"Sweetie, dearie," the engineers shouted. "Are you there?"
Boh replied: "Can you really save us?"
One rescuer replied : "Have faith in us."
Boh joked that they could have a date with us once we got out. We'd have a party.
They asked if we wanted beer. Boh replied: "No, we want the best champagne!"
I hear them as they chopped away at slabs to get to Cheong. I held onto the slab, the wall above me, to keep it from falling. Cheong told them to rescue us first. I told him to go ahead. I knew once he was rescued, we could get out.
I told the rescuers I was thirsty. I drank 1½ bottles when they got to me. When I got out, I saw lights. I thought I was going out of the main door. I could not understand why it was on that side of the road though.
I'm so glad to be alive. For those who are trapped, there is hope. No one thought any of the bank staff would survive, yet we did. Please thank all the many people who helped in my rescue. My life was in their hands.
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
