Death of man who fell off escalator handrail he sat on could have been avoided: Coroner

A 30-year-old man died after falling from an escalator handrail at Suntec City in Singapore, an incident a coroner has deemed a tragic but avoidable accident.

Man Dies After Fall From Escalator Handrail

Mr. Farhan Faris Mohamed Nazeem was with friends at a pub in Suntec City at approximately 2 a.m. on March 30, 2025, when he later fell around 6 meters (approximately 20 feet) after sitting on the escalator handrail and losing his balance.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda determined there was no foul play in Mr. Farhan’s death, according to findings dated Dec. 22, 2025. Mr. Farhan was pronounced dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital at 10:44 p.m. on March 30, 2025.

An autopsy revealed Mr. Farhan sustained severe traumatic brain injury, along with fractured ribs and spine. The cause of death was determined to be multiple injuries consistent with a fall from height.

The coroner noted that Mr. Farhan’s mood that night may have contributed to his decision to sit on the handrail. “Mr Farhan had been out at a pub with the rest of the group… They clearly had a good time… All the group… drank alcoholic beverages and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Nakhoda said.

Court documents show Mr. Farhan and his friends left the bar around 4:30 a.m. and proceeded to an escalator leading from the third level to the ground floor. CCTV footage showed Mr. Farhan dancing as he stepped onto the escalator.

While descending, he sat on the handrail, holding on with both hands. Approximately halfway down, about 6 meters from the ground, he fell backwards.

A friend witnessed the fall and the group rushed to the ground floor, finding Mr. Farhan with a broken left wrist and blood coming from the back of his head. He was also breathing heavily.

According to Sergeant Alvin Teo Hui Tiong of the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Mr. Farhan was found lying on the ground surrounded by a pool of blood.

The coroner emphasized the danger of such activity, stating, “An escalator handrail is very narrow, and it has never been intended to be used as a seat.” He concluded, “This accident would not have happened if Mr Farhan had not sat on the escalator’s handrail as he descended.”