A 26-year-old Singaporean engineer, on a work posting in Suzhou, China, drowned in a fitness club swimming pool near his apartment last Tuesday.

Mr Ooi Eu Jin, who was posted by his company, GE Aviation, to Suzhou for a six-month stint in September, was found face down in 1.2 m deep water by a swimmer at the indoor swimming pool at about 7.30 pm on Nov 13.

The swimmer alerted two lifeguards on duty. Together with other club members, they tried in vain to resuscitate Mr Ooi.

Mr Ooi's body was flown back on Monday night. At his wake being held at Block 460, in Hougang Avenue 10, family members including Mr Ooi's wife of nine months, are still coming to terms with his death.

Described as super-fit health buff, the strong swimmer, scuba diver and marathon runner who had first-class honours in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the National Technological University, had everything going for him.

He had a good job, a loving wife and family, and a wedding next October. He was also planning to do a master's degree next year.

His wife, Miss Debbie Khoo, also 26, told TNP she last spoke to her husband the night before he died.

'He was perfectly fine. He said he was training harder so he could carry me on our wedding day,' said a tearful Ms Khoo, who was in the same CCA group as Mr Ooi in Nanyang Junior College.

The couple registered their marriage on Valentine's Day this year and were planning to hold their customary wedding on Oct 26 next year and running a marathon together.

Ms Khoo said her husband was a health buff who went to the gym almost everyday, and swam three times a week. He ran his first marathon last year and was captain of the canoeing and dragonboat team in junior college.

'I still wonder how it happened. It was an indoor pool with people around, and only 1.2 m deep,' said a devastated Ms Khoo. 'We are guessing he probably over-exerted himself and fainted or maybe his heart had stopped and then he drowned.'

Mr Ooi had worked out at the gym before his swim, said TNP.

Tests showed that the cause of death was drowning, said his father, Mr Ooi Ah Baa, 57.

The elder Mr Ooi said he spoke to his son by webcam two days before the tragedy.

'Eu Jin appeared normal, and was even showing off his muscles to us,' he told TNP.

One of Mr Ooi's friends, Mr Ng Tang Sen, 26, who has created a blog for people to pay tribute to him, said of his buddy of 14 years, 'He was a determined person who studied hard and trained very hard for his races. He was also a born leader.'

Mr Ooi will be cremated at the Mandai Crematorium on Thursday afternoon.

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