In a heart-wrenching incident that has left a family shattered, a nine-year-old boy in Bukit Batok underwent emergency surgery to remove a kidney after a devastating fall from monkey bars.

The accident unfolded on June 20 around 6 PM at a playground adjacent to Block 443D, Bukit Batok West Avenue 8. According to local reports, the young boy, Liu Junwen, was playing with other children when disaster struck.

Liu's father, Liu Zhiyuan, shared that his son fell from a height of approximately 1.8 meters, landing hard on a plastic divider, which caused severe internal damage. Initially, the boy returned home in tears, his face pale and no visible injuries apparent.

It wasn’t until his mother, Zheng Meiyan, noticed he was urinating blood during a bath that the family realized the gravity of the situation. They rushed him to the hospital around 9 PM, where X-rays revealed a horrifying rupture in his right kidney.

Doctors quickly performed a life-saving surgery that lasted between three to four hours, discovering a significant 10-centimeter rupture that necessitated the removal of the kidney.

Now recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at the National University Hospital, Liu Junwen is unable to eat solid food and is being fed through a tube. His family is on high alert as he remains under observation.

Liu Zhiyuan expressed his shock at the severity of his son’s injury, hoping their ordeal will serve as a powerful reminder to other parents. "I never imagined something like this could happen... It's crucial to have an adult present when kids are playing," he emphasized.

As the primary provider for his family of five, Liu also faces the daunting prospect of medical bills that could exceed five figures, alongside concerns about any long-term complications that may arise from his son's injury.

A Cautionary Tale for Parents

This tragic event stands as a stark reminder for parents about the importance of supervision in playgrounds. Just last December, another child, aged two, required hospital treatment after being struck by a falling object while at a Sengkang playground, resulting in a wound that needed closure with adhesive.

HealthHub Singapore urges caregivers to actively supervise children when playing, ensuring that equipment is safe and suitable for their age, and to teach kids about potential hazards to reduce injury risks.