SINGAPORE (17 Mar 2007) -- As the young scuba enthusiast packing for her week-long holiday in Perth, her mother felt uneasy. She knew that her only child, Serene Teng, 24, loved the outdoors, including activities such as swimming and kayaking - and more recently, diving. Her parents, who only wanted to be known as Mr and Mrs Teng, were not even aware that the accountancy graduate had taken up scuba diving lessons. Until they saw the diver's certificate which came in the mail about six months ago. Mrs Teng, 51, told reporters: 'We didn't know Serene had taken up scuba diving or we'd have stopped her because we felt it was a dangerous sport.' After finding out, the couple had reservations but respected their daughter's choice. 'But when I saw her packing her swimming costume for the trip, I told her not to go diving,' said Mrs Teng. 'I said, 'it is fine for you to swim, you know, or play at the beach, but don't dive, okay?'.' Miss Teng explained to her mother that her trip to Rottnest Island, a popular beach resort in Perth, was so that she and her 24-year-old boyfriend could scuba dive. But four days after they left Singapore, her father received the call that they had dreaded most. Miss Teng had gone for her eighth dive, with a group including her boyfriend and a dive-master at Groper Caves off Geordie Bay on the morning of 19 Feb. She had apparently signalled to her boyfriend, her 'dive buddy', that she wanted to surface. But minutes later, her boyfriend and the dive-master spotted her lying on the seabed. Miss Teng was pulled out of the sea unconscious around 11.30am and lifted onto the boat where resuscitation attempts started at once. Her father, a 57-year-old retiree, recalled: 'When Serene's boyfriend called and said, 'Something happened to her when we were scuba diving', I knew right away it was bad news.' FRANTIC The couple rushed to the airport and scrambled around frantically to arrange for tickets to fly to Perth. And over the past 26 days, they have kept vigil by their precious daughter's bedside, going through the emotional sea-saw of hoping that she'd awake from her coma. Yesterday afternoon at Tan Tock Seng Hospital where Miss Teng has been warded since her return on 5 Mar, Mr Teng said: 'Doctors here and even in Australia have told us the same thing - that Serene suffered severe brain damage because she had been in the water for too long and had been deprived of oxygen.' The two-hour interview was the first that the Teng family had given since the incident. Often, both parents would struggle to hold back their tears. Etched clearly on their faces were their feelings of despair, fatigue and helplessness. Still, they were not angry with Miss Teng or her boyfriend, and blamed no one for the accident. Mr Teng said: 'Yes, I'm angry... but it is at the situation... at why this had to happen to us.' As they watched their once-healthy and bubbly child lying helplessly in the B1-ward bed with intense pain in their weary eyes, the Tengs were prepared for the worst even as they refused to give up hope. 'Medically, we know that chances for a full recovery are not high but no one can really tell,' said Mr Teng. His wife, who has taken leave from her training co-ordinator job, added: 'I don't know... sometimes when I'm looking at Serene, I feel like she can see me, like she can recognise me... but I really don't know if this is just my own thinking. 'No one can understand this kind of pain that we feel.' | | Serene Teng, 24, has been a coma since a scuba diving accident in Australia on February 19. Especially since the independent Miss Teng had mapped out what she wanted for her future. Mrs Teng said: 'Serene is a good girl, very sensible and we never had to worry about her.' Even though Miss Teng was working in HSBC, she still continued to pursue a part-time three-year course in chartered financial analysis. Mrs Teng said with quiet pride: 'For the past two years, Serene's results have been among the top 5 per cent internationally. She would have graduated with flying colours...' She revealed that her daughter had also applied for a HDB flat with her boyfriend but was twice unsuccessful. They had been dating for a few years. LOST Beside her, Mr Teng seemed lost in his own thoughts. Both father and daughter were very close, said Mrs Teng. 'He would do anything for Serene. Do you know even though she is already working, Papa still gives her pocket money?' she revealed. Mr Teng smiled wryly and said: 'It's my way of showing my love... because to me, Serene will always be daddy's little girl.' But Miss Teng's maternal grandparents have been kept in the dark about the tragedy. Mrs Teng explained: 'My parents are in their 90s; my mother is wheelchair-bound and my father is also frail and weak. We don't want to worry them. 'Thankfully, my sisters have been wonderful, especially my elder sister.' Mrs Teng shared how her older sibling had exhausted herself visiting various temples, from the Kuan Yim Thong Hood temple in Waterloo Street to Hindu ones and even going to different churches - in search for an answer to their prayers for a miracle. She added that her sister, who has two sons, 'has always doted on Serene and treated her like her own daughter'. Now they take life one day at a time. Said Mr Teng: 'It is pointless to think too far ahead, we can only take each day as it comes or there will be more misery.' And though there was nothing much else that they could do for their daughter except to be at her side, they would only dash home for a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes before returning to the hospital. Mr Teng said: 'You know, this is fate. Our lives have suddenly been turned upside. 'Everything had been going on very smoothly... the future had looked bright... and we had been blessed with a wonderful daughter. 'Now it has become so dim... so helpless and hopeless.' Mrs Teng added: 'We were truly a happy family... fillled with so much love... but I still keep the faith that there is a chance for a miracle.' SOURCE - The New PaperSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba ForumCDNN Related NewsAUSTRALIA - Tourist in coma after scuba diving accident |
