One Dream, One Lift, One Heart‑breaking Fall
On a typical Thursday, Andrew—a bright 18‑year‑old from Malaysia—saw his world tilt completely. The very supermarket where he’d just started his first job became the backdrop of a tragedy that left his family’s last twinkling moment with him forever.
What Happened?
In the early hours of April 11 in Bintulu, Sarawak, a chaotic lift mishap unfolded. The elevator, suspended in an open shaft, began a downward descent, colliding with a stack of cardboard boxes that tumbled onto its roof. Andrew, alongside a coworker, scrambled to salvage the chaos.
Step by Step: The Video
- The lift skids down, spreading boxes like dominoes.
- Andrew climbs onto the roof to rope the displaced cartons back to safety.
- For roughly 30 seconds, he dutifully moves each box from the roof to the landing floor.
- Just as he lifts the final crate onto the lift’s platform, the structure gives way.
- Andrew plummets, mottled by the collapse.
The incident, caught on CCTV, instantly sparked a wave of comments and concerns across social media. The footage’s rawness stung—short of its open‑air commentary, it carries a weight that can’t be ignored.
The Aftermath
Paramedics arrived on the scene, but it was too late: Andrew was pronounced dead on the spot. According to the Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department, he was likely crushed as the lift’s side failed.
Behind the Numbers
Andrew had just crossed the finish line of the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) exams—Malaysia’s version of Singapore’s O‑levels—and was riding the wait for his results. He’d also purposely sought work to ease his family’s financial burden.
His mother, grieving yet dignified, described him as “always obedient and well‑behaved.” She added that he was already clear on the university major he’d like to pursue. Tragically, that dream will forever remain a ping‑pong of “what if.”
Takeaway
Safety in the workplace isn’t just a policy. It’s the difference between a smooth climb and a deadly fall. As Andrew’s story shows, a lift’s collapse can claim life in a split second—especially when you’re trying to juggle boxes.
