Woman hit by falling door at Alexandra Central Mall requires surgery for injuries

A 47-year-old woman who was hit by a falling door at a carpark lift lobby in Alexandra Central Mall on Sunday (Feb 24) is now in a high dependency ward in hospital.

Besides head injuries, she also suffered multiple fractures along her legs and pelvic bone, as well as lacerations to her liver.

Her sister told Shin Min Daily News, "Since her pelvic bone is fractured, she will require surgery to help support and stabilize the spine. She might walk with a limp otherwise."

"Every time the morphine (painkiller) wears off, my sister would cry out in agony," she sobbed. "She told me she doesn't know what pain is anymore."

The woman's husband recounted the accident, saying, "My wife had just followed me into the lift lobby on level four when a glass door came crashing down on her all of a sudden."

In CCTV footage which has since gone viral on social media, he could be seen trying to lift the door - which weighed over 100kg - to free her.

"But it was too heavy," he said.

With the help of his brother-in-law, he managed to move the door away and called for an ambulance.

His wife moaned in pain and appeared to be in a state of shock, and asked him what had happened before she lost consciousness.

The woman was later taken to National University Hospital for treatment.

After the accident, the mall cordoned off glass door areas on level four, five and six, and also engaged a contractor to conduct thorough safety checks on all glass doors in the building, Alexandra Central's spokesman Philip Pang told AsiaOne.

He said that the mall will inspect and replace all parts related to glass doors and is in communications with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to ensure that the doors are certified safe for operations. 

A BCA spokesperson, however, told AsiaOne that "Under the Building Control Act and Regulations, BCA regulates construction works to ensure compliance with the requirements, including barrier-free accessibility, lifts and escalators."

"Interior fixtures and fittings, such as glass doors, are not regulated under the BC Act, and remain the responsibility of the building owner to manage and maintain. 

According to Mr Pang, the mall will render assistance to the victim and her family but declined to comment further on the case as it is now under police investigation.

The mall also said that it will take "firm actions" against those who leaked the CCTV footage, as it breached security protocol as well as the victim's privacy.

lamminlee@asiaone.com