‘Parent’s instinct’: Man quickly stops car to rescue toddler outside Punggol mall

On a fateful evening in Punggol, a man named Hamad Gaddafi Fauzi made a heart-stopping decision to save a young toddler from a potential danger. As Mr Hamad and his wife exited the Punggol Coast Mall carpark around 6:00 p.m., they noticed a small boy, believed to be about two years old, walking on the zebra crossing and then running towards the oncoming traffic.

Without a second thought for their own safety, Mr Hamad swiftly pulled his car over and ran towards the boy. The video, captured by his car's dash cam, shows him approaching the child, who turned towards him without any distress. Hamad picked the toddler in his arms and carried him back to safety.

The clip has gained widespread attention on TikTok, with many users expressing gratitude for his quick action. Some even suggested that he should receive an award for his prompt and decisive response. Mr Hamad, however, expressed that it was simply a parent's instinct and a lifesaving reflex. He informed the Independent Singapore News that he not only stopped his car but also signaled other vehicles to halt, ensuring the child's safety.

In an attempt to find the boy's parents, Mr Hamad took the child to a nearby bus interchange, but to no avail. He then continued walking with the toddler towards the mall, where a young man recognized as the boy's father appeared. The father seemed unbothered by the incident, merely stating that the child had been running too fast. Despite this, Mr Hamad took it as a positive outcome, as the father had not panicked or exhibited any signs of distress.

The incident has brought forth a sense of relief and gratitude from the community, appreciating the man's rapid action and the preservation of the child's well-being.