Poly student has responded to over 50 cardiac arrests since he was 16

He signed up on the myResponder app in 2021, and has since received six SCDF awards for his efforts

- Elisha Tushara Correspondent

While most young people check their phones for messages or social media updates, 20-year-old Darryl Lee looks out for alerts to respond to emergencies.

Since signing up on the myResponder app at the age of 16, Mr Lee has responded to 70 calls for assistance, 58 of which were for cardiac arrests.

He has performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on people at least 50 times, said the second-year nursing student at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), who handled most of the cases on his own.

His mother works in an administrative role, while his father works in the service sector.

Launched in 2015 by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the myResponder app alerts members of the public so they can respond to cardiac arrest cases or minor fires nearby.

For his efforts, Mr Lee received his first SCDF Community Lifesaver Award in 2021. He has since received five more awards, the latest in May 2025 for helping in another cardiac arrest case.

Mr Lee became interested in helping others when he started watching local police drama series C.L.I.F. at the age of 12. The show regularly featured SCDF and police officers helping others.

His interest grew after he attended a three-day healthcare elective module at Bukit View Secondary School in 2021, when he was in Secondary 4. "It’s like a study break week when you learn additional skills and knowledge... I chose something nursing-related because I had the most interest in healthcare since I was young, and knew I wanted a uniformed career."

He downloaded the myResponder app and signed up as a first responder right after the course instructor introduced it to him.