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By Rachel Cheng HE waves smashed into him, he was sick to his Tstomach and his arms and legs were weak. But Mr Chin Leong Siong knew he had to finish the 10km swim. His girlfriend was waiting for him at the end. And he had something very special to ask her. Would she marry him? In front of hundreds of spectators, an exhausted and sick Mr Chin managed to croak out the proposal last Sunday. And brought tears to his girlfriend's eyes. Engineer Jennifer Chew, 25, was completely taken by surprise. According to an eyewitness, Mr Herbert Teo, the exhausted and panting Mr Chin was given the microphone by the MC. 'He croaked into the mike, 'Jennifer, will you marry me?' ' His shocked girlfriend rushed up to him, hugged him, kissed him and with tears trailing down her cheeks said loudly, 'Yes, Yes, I will'. What made the proposal even more dramatic was the sudden rain and the stomach ache that struck Mr Chin half-way through the swim. 'I was extremely miserable during the swim since it was raining and I think the seawater I drank early on gave me diarrhoea. 'Because of that, I had no strength in my arms and legs to swim against the huge waves,' he said. Giving up came across his mind a few times during the five-hour swim, but 'I had already bought the ring and my friends were all waiting for me at the Merlion'. The 28-year-old site manager was one of the last few swimmers to arrive but that did not matter to him. 'I just knew I had to finish by hook or by crook to propose,' added Mr Chin. It was a real surprise for Ms Chew, who has been dating Mr Chin for two years: 'There wasn't any indication he was going to propose, although he asked about my ring size when we were out a few times.' The whole thing started innocently enough as a fundraiser to help runaway teens organised by Trevor Xie, 23, from the Student Advisory Centre. The 10km charity swim was held in conjunction with the Jetty Jump organised for the National Family Week. It involved families jumping into the sea at the mouth of Singapore River (at the Esplanade end) and swimming across to the Merlion Park. Mr Chin said he had earlier thought of popping the question in front of his friends during a barbecue but 'it's a bit cheesy'. 'Then I was thinking about asking her during dinner in the Sentosa Cable Car but I think a lot of people have done it before.' It appears their friends knew what he had in mind. About 20 friends turned up to support him. According to Ms Chew, he is very shy. She said: 'I think this is the most daring thing he'll ever do.' ...while MP drops baby hint
THE marriage proposal was even picked up by Minister of Community Development and Sports, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (carrying a baby at a child and infant care centre in Sengkang earlier this year), later on in his speech. He said: 'I wish both of you a happy marriage and happiness for the future - and don't stop at two!' Ms Chew said: 'I didn't hear what he said but saw him holding up three fingers. 'It was a very big hint, but I think we are going to wait a few more years for children!' Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved. |