Viral lift lobby scuffle: Caregiver stresses importance of accessibility etiquette

SHAH ALAM – A man in a viral video of a scuffle at a lift lobby in a Singapore shopping mall has stepped forward to share his side of the story.

The incident on Dec 1 gained attention online after a video showed a man aggressively pushing others near a lift. It was initially claimed that the scuffle started when someone tried to help a wheelchair user into the lift.

However, the man in the video, known as Suresh Vanaz, explained on TikTok on Dec 2 that the situation was misunderstood.

In the video that garnered over 542,000 views, Suresh said he was helping his brother, a wheelchair user, exit the lift.

He said as he reversed to wheel his brother out, he unintentionally bumped into another man.

Rather than showing understanding, he said the man became confrontational and challenged him to "settle" the issue.

"You need to be mindful and give way. God didn’t give me extra eyes at the back. When you called me to "settle," where did you run after that? Your wife got involved, your family got involved – but I was just trying to help my brother out of the lift," he said in the video.

Suresh said this was not his first encounter with such inconsiderate behaviour in elevators in Singapore.

He also expressed frustration over the lack of awareness shown by some individuals who failed to prioritise caregivers and wheelchair users.

"You have a family who can walk, take the escalator. My brother and I don’t have that option. Use your brain and be considerate," he added.

His plea for awareness and compassion resonated with many TikTok users, sparking empathy and reflection in the comments.

A social media user, @it’s_me, wrote "Honestly, who should have priority for the elevator? Many people who are healthy and strong do not want to use the escalator."

Another user, @yaya said "Bro I'm glad I came here and listened to your explanation. Now I want to hear from them also. I'm not here to take sides but it's good to hear your side of the situation."

Others also shared their experiences, with @nellyconway commenting: "Omg bro, thanks for sharing cause my husband and I are experiencing this every day when we go out with a stroller. If it's a long queue for the lift, it’s ok if just one of us with the stroller takes the lift."

This story served as a reminder of the importance of empathy and consideration, especially for people with disabilities and their caregivers.