Sleepwalker falls to his death from flat

April 10, 2008
Sleepwalker falls to his death from flat
By Ian Lim
The relatives of Mr Jason Ong at the wake. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY MR Jason Ong struck 4D last Saturday, winning $12,000 with a bet on his lucky numbers '3877'. But the 39-year-old tour guide never got to enjoy his prize money. On Wednesday morning, he was found dead at the foot of Block 299, Punggol Central. His elder brother, Mr David Ong, 46, said Jason had a history of sleepwalking, and would open the windows when he got into that sub-conscious state. He did not want to have window grilles fixed to his six-storey flat because he found them 'ugly'. Mr Ong was living in the flat with his wife, a Malaysian permanent resident, and two other friends. The couple had no children. Jason had been sleepwalking for the past ten years, said his elder brother. Initially, he would sleepwalk once or twice a year. But his condition grew worse in 2005 when he started sleepwallking once a month - after he became depressed by the pressure of irregular working hours as a tour guide. The elder Mr Ong said his brother had seen the doctor and was on medication. But he added that he went off medication for about a month and only went to the doctor to get a resupply of his medicine two weeks ago. He said he had advised his brother to install window grills for his own safety. But Jason had refused, saying there was no need as they had no children in the flat. *********************************** Oh my! That's my block! My deepest condolences to the family (Yah....now the whole world knows which block I live; hear one mad mother screaming at the top of her voice; listen and it will lead you to my unit.Hee!)