Boatman falls overboard after collision with Outward Bound boat

​The boatman of a small fishing boat fell overboard after an accident involving an Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) boat last Sunday.

The collision, which occurred near the Punggol Point Jetty at 7.05am, happened as the OBS boat was departing the jetty towards Pulau Ubin, OBS and the National Youth Council said in a joint statement issued on Tuesday night.

OBS is a division under the National Youth Council.

In response to queries from Channel NewsAsia, NYC said the OBS boat was on a routine trip to ferry staff to Pulau Ubin to support an ongoing OBS course. No course participants were on the boat, it said.

After the boatman fell overboard, OBS staff rescued him and rendered first aid. An ambulance took him to a hospital at 7.30am, and he is currently being treated for his injuries.

NYC declined to provide more information on the extent of his injuries, citing patient confidentiality and the family's request for privacy.

OBS staff are in contact with the man and his family and providing them with “necessary assistance”. It is also cooperating with authorities investigating the accident, it said.

"OBS places a high value on safety, and we take such incidents seriously. We’ve shared the learning outcomes with staff and reminded them to stay extra vigilant when piloting boats and to be on the lookout for other sea crafts in the vicinity," NYC said.