Ong Hock Long: Body of Singapore boatman who died in bumboat fire found

The 33-year-old's boat caught fire when he was going to pick up passengers from the Esplanade stop.

The body of the missing boatman whose bumboat caught fire on Tuesday evening was found late on Wednesday in the Singapore River.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the man has been identified as Ong Hock Long and his family members have been informed.

The boatman's company said the 33-year-old Ong's boat caught fire when he was going to pick up passengers from the Esplanade stop. Eyewitnesses said they saw a man jump from the burning vessel into the water.

The police said Ong was the only person in the boat and there were no other reports of missing persons or injuries.

Ong had been working with the Singapore River Cruise (SRC) river taxi service for about three years.

Neo, a childhood friend and former colleague of the boatman, said Ong was very hard working and he used to love his job.

"I believe he wanted to put out the fire, but it was too big and he could have inhaled too much smoke, which made him confused. Maybe that is why he jumped into the river," Neo told the Channel News Asia.

Singapore River Cruise (SRC) said that it will continue to "render all possible assistance" to Ong's family.

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