• Mr Mohammed Ali was in a coma for seven days after an accident on the night of April 10
• His medical bills have come up to S$100,000
• His father said the public has donated close to S$70,000 to date

SINGAPORE — After an accident earlier this month left him with brain injuries and saddled with S$100,000 in medical bills, part-time GrabFood delivery rider Mohammed Ali has received close to S$70,000 in donations from the public.

His father, Mr Mohammed Kamarruhadi, 46, told TODAY that the money will go towards his 18-year-old son’s medical bills. This does not include a cranioplasty procedure to correct a defect in a bone of his skull, which costs between S$15,000 and S$30,000.

The single father of two, who lost his job as a technician in January, said: “I am speechless. Thank you is not enough. I apologise if I didn’t get to thank each and every one of (the donors) individually.”

Mr Ali had just graduated from the Institute of Technical Education and was waiting to enlist into National Service (NS) when he was involved in an accident along Toh Guan Road on the night of April 10. It left him with multiple injuries — snapped veins and vessels and many broken bones.

He was under intensive care for 10 days, of which seven days were spent in a coma.

On Monday (April 26), his brother, Mr Elfy Andriann, took to Facebook in an appeal to raise money for Mr Ali’s medical bills.

Mr Elfy, 22, said in the now-viral post that Mr Ali had to undergo surgery to remove part of his skull to release pressure and blood clots in the brain due to the severe impact on his head.

“The doctors also mentioned if no decision was made, Ali would not make it. That was how serious it was. Imagine the mental state and pressure my father and I was in at the moment,” he wrote.

Mr Elfy, who also works as a GrabFood delivery rider, said the surgery went well and his brother woke up eight days after being admitted to the hospital. He was later transferred to the surgical neurology ward.

Mr Kamarruhadi said that his youngest son is no longer in the intensive care unit, can now speak and had even asked for a McDonald’s meal. He has also undergone his first physiotherapy session and is recuperating at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

Recalling the pain of waiting for Mr Ali to awaken from his coma, Mr Kamarruhadi said: “When he finally opened his eyes for the first time (since the accident), I felt like it was the greatest moment of my life.”

In response to TODAY’s queries, Grab said it is in touch with Mr Ali’s next-of-kin and will render support in various ways, including assisting with the processing of his insurance claims.

INDEPENDENT SON

Mr Kamarruhadi said that Mr Ali started delivering food part-time on a bicycle six months ago to earn money for the family, before getting his motorcycle licence in January this year. He also wanted to save some money before entering NS.

“Ali has always been very independent. If he wants something, he’ll work hard for it. He even bought his own bike with his own money.”

Recalling the bittersweet conversation he had with his sons after many fruitless months in his job search, Mr Kamarruhadi added: “We are each other’s best friends. When I couldn’t work, they told me not to worry and even promised that they would take care of me.”

Now that the hardest part is over, Mr Ali said he reminds his son every day about the generosity of the public that has helped them through the dark times.

He added that he is still reeling from the overwhelming response and has been replying to well-wishers one by one.

“Today, people are helping him. In future, I want him to help people, whoever is in need.”