SINGAPORE, Oct 5 — A senior staff at Underwater World Singapore (UWS) has died after getting stung in the chest by a stingray, prompting a suspension of efforts to transfer the defunct attraction’s animals to new facilities.

The unusual incident happened yesterday afternoon, as 62-year-old Philip Chan was preparing some animals for transfer to a new aquarium.

Chan was "injured in the chest by a stingray” in the process, and died from his injury a few hours later at the Singapore General Hospital, according to a media statement from Haw Par Corporation, which ran UWS. The once-popular attraction ceased operations in late June.

Chan, a senior supervisor of the Curatorial Department, was one of the 10 UWS staff who had stayed after the attraction’s closure to help care for the animals while suitable new homes were being found.

In its statement, the company said Chan was a "veteran diver, aquarist and animal caregiver who had been caring for the aquatic animals at UWS since its opening in 1991”.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the incident at 2.20pm yesterday and despatched an ambulance to UWS. They foundChan lying near the entrance and the paramedics commenced CPR. The SCDF said the paramedics continued to administer CPR while on route to SGH. The hospital was also alerted to be on standby to receive Chan.

Haw Par said it is assisting the authorities with the investigations, adding that the company would provide "all possible support and assistance” to Chan’s family. — TODAY