Malaysian actor Shaun Chen with his father, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Negeri Sembilan on March 28. Photo: Shaun Chen/Instagram
Malaysian actor Shaun Chen has opened up about the devastating loss of his father Tan Po in a tragic hit-and-run accident in Negeri Sembilan.
The 84-year-old passed away on March 28 after he was struck by an errant car while riding his motorcycle.
In the latest episode of his online series, Chen, 47, reflected on how his father's sudden passing affected him.
The Mediacorp star recounted the moment he received the news from his good friend while in Bangkok with his family.
Adding to the anguish, he was unable to return to Malaysia immediately as an earthquake in Myanmar had shaken the Thai capital.
Speaking about the delayed emergency response following the accident, Chen said: "People at the scene called a clinic, but the clinic said it had to call headquarters, who would then dispatch an ambulance. That already wasted about 15 minutes."
He added that during those 15 minutes, no bystanders stepped in to perform CPR on his dad, believing they shouldn't touch him.
"I think it's OK to touch him, turn him around and check if he's breathing. If he is, then you can give him CPR.
"If I had been there and knew how to perform CPR, I would've done so for him," he said.
Chen revealed that by the time the ambulance arrived, 30 to 45 minutes had already passed.
"Even then, they had to send him to an older clinic nearby. It was only after transferring him to a hospital in the city that the doctor told us he had already passed away," he said.
Chen described his late father as a simple and responsible man, who taught him that family always comes first. Photo: Shaun Chen/Instagram
The Emerald Hill star shared that his biggest regret was never getting the chance to travel with his father, who had always wanted to visit China.
"I told him I'd arrange it someday. I really regret not being able to take him. At his age, he just wants to spend more time with his children and travel the world," he added.
While Chen has urged the driver who hit his father to come forward and apologise following the incident, he said the person has yet to do so, despite surrendering to the police.
"He didn't come out to say anything. I believe he doesn't dare either," the actor said.
Chen described his late father as a simple and responsible person who taught him to always put family first.
"Family is the most important thing. When you're (away from home), call your family everyday to check in on them. You must cherish the people around you, especially your parents and siblings," he concluded.
