COVID-19 positive Indian found dead in Singapore was worried over finances, family: Report

An Indian national, found de at staircase of a hospital, was worried over his finances and family after contracting COVID-19, a media report said on Thursday.

A doctor from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), where Alagu Periyakarrupan was found de, told court that 46-year-old construction worker was on track to be moved to a community facility.On April 23, Alagu was found lying motionless without a pulse at an outdoor staircase landing on third floor at KTPH, just days after he was mitted for a COVID-19 infection.

court heard that Alagu, who was mitted to hospital on April 19, was described by or patients as quiet but who helped nurses distribute food trays during meal times.

Dr Goh Kah Hong, he of psychiatry department at KTPH as well as chairman of hospital's committee tasked to review his death, said: "He mentioned some worries about his financial future as well as worrying about his kids in India... Those were common concerns by patients in similar situations."

Dr Goh said that many migrant workers, who are COVID-19 patients, have a "conceptual difficulty" in understanding why y are in hospital, even after ir diagsis h been translated to m in ir native langus. court heard that Alagu h complications and was on track to be transferred to community facilities.But at about 5.30 AM on April 23, he me two video recordings on his phone from toilet of his ward, saying he wanted to end his life because he h coronavirus infection.

He is believed to have n used a metal hook in his possession to pry open one of window panes by his bed and leapt from window.An autopsy report found that he died from injuries caused by "a fall from height", suffering multiple injuries including a ruptured heart, bleeding into chest cavities, fractured ribs and pelvis, and bleeding over surface of his brain.

re was evidence to indicate that his death was caused by pneumonia.Investigating Officer Inspector Jolene Ng testified that it could t be ascertained where Alagu got metal hook as investigations did t reveal if it came from anywhere in hospital.

KTPH has, since incident, used silicone as an hesive on all its windows to ensure that it would be more difficult to prise open catches used to secure window panes.In April, Ministry of Manpower said Alagu h been working in Singapore as a construction worker for same employer since September 2009. He did t file any complaints against his employer.