Singaporean actor dies after military training in NZ

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A Singaporean actor and soldier who was injured during a military exercise in Waiouru over the weekend has died.

• This story was first published by RNZ

Pang Wei Chong was injured while carrying out repair work on a self-propelled Howitzer weapon last Saturday.

He sustained injuries when the gun barrel was lowered.

He was taken to Waikato Hospital, where he underwent a number of surgeries to treat his injuries.

Earlier, a New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson confirmed the injury happened during Exercise Thunder Warrior - a live-firing exercise it hosts each year but does not participate in.

Doctor Teo Li Tserng, chief of trauma and acute care surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, was flown in to assist the New Zealand medical team.

It said in a statement that despite surgical attempts to repair damaged organs and putting him on artificial life support, Mr Pang succumbed to the injuries and died last night.

An independent Committee of Inquiry will investigate and preliminary findings will be presented on Thursday by the chief of the Defence Force.

The Singapore Armed Forces will be making arrangements to take the body back to Singapore.

Mr Pang is an actor who has starred in a number of Singaporean films and television series, and is also serving in the defence force as a reservist.

His family had earlier posted on social media about the actor's condition and what doctors had told them.