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Popular Assamese singer and composer Zubeen Garg submerged in Singapore A coroner’s court heard on Wednesday that he entered the sea without a lifejacket while “severely drunk” last September.
Garg, 52, was in Singapore for a Booked to perform at North East India Festival He drowned on September 19 after participating in a private yacht outing near Lazarus Island. He initially wore a life jacket while swimming, but later took it off and refused to put on a second one despite repeated reminders, according to investigators.
Giving evidence at the coroner’s inquest, the lead investigating officer said Garg entered the water a second time without safety equipment and swam to Lazarus Island alone.
As quoted by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP) David Lim straits times: “The deceased then decided to continue swimming and a smaller life jacket was placed over his shoulders but he refused to wear it.
“Suddenly, the deceased appeared motionless and floating face down.”
Witnesses on the boat later saw him turn around and then suddenly become motionless, floating face down in the water. He was pulled back to the yacht and given CPR before being taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that day.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning.
Toxicology results showed Garg’s blood alcohol level was 333 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood, more than four times the legal driving limit in Singapore, which experts said would have severely impaired his coordination and reflexes.
The court also heard Garg had a history of high blood pressure and epilepsy, but it was unclear whether he had taken epilepsy medication on the day of the incident. channel news asia.
A forensic pathologist testified that there were no physical indicators, such as a bitten tongue, that could confirm whether he had a seizure before drowning.
Investigators stressed that foul play is not suspected. Testimony from multiple witnesses said Garg did not appear suicidal and entered the water voluntarily. this ask It brought together testimonies from police investigators, medical experts and the yacht’s crew, while also addressing concerns raised by the singer’s family.
Video played in court showed him swimming when he first entered the sea, then struggling after taking off his life jacket.
Garg’s uncle told the court the family was trying to understand the sequence of events that led to the singer’s death. Garg walked out of his hotel room on Sept. 19 “full of energy and full of hope,” but eventually left, he said.
“In between those two moments there was a series of events that the family doesn’t fully understand,” he said.
He hopes to find out who organized the yacht trip, who accompanied Garg and whether there were any delays in providing medical assistance. He also questioned why Garg entered the sea and whether he did so entirely of his own free will.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda explained that the purpose of the inquest was to determine the cause and circumstances of death, not to pursue criminal responsibility.
He added that the family would have the opportunity to question witnesses during the proceedings.
The coroner’s inquest will continue at the next hearing on February 3 and 4.