PUBLISHED ONNovember 05, 2026 11:00 PMBYKoh Xing YingA 76-year-old Singaporean man who fell critically ill while travelling in Xinjiang, China, has pledged to donate 100,000 yuan (S$19,130) annually to the hospital that treated him, in appreciation of the medical team's efforts.
Xu Senfu (transliteration) developed severe breathing difficulties during his trip, and his condition rapidly deteriorated before he was rushed to a local hospital, reported China Daily.
Medical examinations found that he was suffering from a condition affecting the left side of his heart, alongside several underlying health issues, including diabetes, high potassium levels and liver disease.
Given the severity of his condition, he was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit for close monitoring and treatment.
After a week of intensive care, it was reported that his vital signs gradually stabilised, but Xu continued to experience symptoms including diarrhoea, severe thirst and abdominal bloating.
To overcome these complications, the hospital subsequently sought the expertise of a traditional Chinese medicine doctor from a hospital in Shanghai, who was assisting medical teams in Xinjiang.
After six days of taking a prescribed herbal concoction, Xu's symptoms improved significantly.
In a video shared on WeChat on Tuesday (Nov 3), Xu expressed his gratitude to the medical team, saying he had been anxious when he suddenly fell seriously ill during his trip.
"I am extremely touched. They saved my life when I was on the brink of death," he said.
Xu's wife also recounted the frightening experience, saying she was terrified when her husband's blood pressure plunged.
"When his blood pressure dropped from 50 to 38, I was really scared and worried," she said, while acknowledging the medical team's efforts to save her husband's life.
Following Xu's recovery, he decided to make a donation to the hospital yearly, marking the first time the hospital has received such a donation from an individual.
Following Xu's recovery, he and his family decided to pledge an annual donation of 100,000 yuan to the hospital, marking the first time it had received a targeted donation from an individual.
"This is very meaningful, as it represents that our services have been recognised by patients. (We) will manage and use the donations to help more patients facing financial difficulties," said the hospital.
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