Last weekend, a little boy and his father Lin Jian Xiong, were enjoying jogging and walking along a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists along the Serangoon Park Connector.
Mr Lin had finished his jog and was going to get some breakfast with his son. Three-year-old Kyle had been walking around two metres ahead of his father, says a Straits Times report, when (as kids his age often do), he abruptly changed direction and ran across the path.
A cyclist who was approaching from the opposite direction saw Kyle, and reportedly swerved to avoid hitting the child.
"His bike's right handle connected with my son's lip; Kyle lost a tooth from the crash and he was covered in blood," said Mr Lin, also saying that the cyclist was probably travelling at between 30kmh and 40kmh.
"He (the cyclist) later told me that his feet were clipped to the bike's pedals and he had no brakes when I asked why he did not stop," said Mr Lin.
Mr Lin's wife Kaslyn Tan said the cyclist first gave her husband $10 for medical expenses and later offered another $20, following which he left without giving them his number. He had also apologised for knocking into the boy.
"I was still in shock from the accident and was focused on stopping Kyle's bleeding, so I forgot to ask for his contact details," Mr Lin reportedly explained.
Kyle, meanwhile, was taken by ambulance to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for his injuries, including a cut on his chin, loose teeth and bruises.
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153526306244830&set=pcb.10153526306634830&type=3&theater
A plea for help
Ms Tan took to Facebook to ask the public for help to find the cyclist so that they could have a "peaceful closure", says the Straits Times report.
The cyclist has been described as a 1.65m-tall Chinese man who appeared to be in his 40s. He was clad in cycling gear and said he stayed in Pasir Ris, she added.
Mr Lin and his wife want people to know that their aim was not to "defame" the cyclist.
"We want to raise awareness of this incident to the public and urge everyone -- not just cyclists -- to use the paths responsibly. It could happen to anyone," Mr Lin said.
Ms Tan said she received a call from NParks on Monday morning, assuring her that they would be working with the SPF and Ministry of Transport to improve safety on foot and cycling paths at park connectors.
They are also working with SPF to identify the cyclist.
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Dear friends and families, we are thankful to have you by our side after the terrible incident. We also thank members of...
Posted by Kaslyn Tan on Tuesday, 12 January 2016
In her latest Facebook post, Ms Tan says her son is on the road to recovery, but is yet to recover his full appetite.
Parents, do use this incident as a safety reminder about monitoring your kids when out and about. Always keep young ones close to you when you are outside.
Talk to them about the importance of staying near you at all times. Hold their hand when crossing a road. If they are riding their bikes, scooters or skateboard, ensure they are wearing proper safety equipment like helmets, knee and elbow pads.
We at theAsianparent are glad that little Kyle is recovering fast from his ordeal.
What are your 'outdoor' rules for your kids? Share them with us in a comment below.
