SINGAPORE - The foreign worker whose heroic act saved a two-year-old girl's life has been identified as Shanmuganathan.

Reader Jona Pang told The Straits Times that she managed to chat and take pictures with the worker, whom she said "deserves more recognition for what he did for saving a life".

Shanmuganathan has been hailed as a hero after he climbed to the second floor of Housing Board Block 371 Jurong East Street 32 to save a toddler whose head was stuck between the rails of an external clothes-drying rack outside the service yard.

The worker, who was repairing the roads nearby when the incident happened on Thursday afternoon, climbed onto the ledge and carried the crying toddler up. A co-worker climbed up afterwards to help him.

Shanmuganathan, who is from Chennai, carried on with his work after the act and smiled shyly when Ms Pang thanked him.

A video showing him saving the toddler has been circulating online, with Shammugun being called a hero for his quick response.

Videos courtesy of David Cheo

A spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call alerting them of the incident at 1.10pm on Thursday. The girl had been freed by the time the firefighters arrived at the scene five minutes later.

A ladder was used to bring the workers and the girl back down safely.

The two foreign workers, who are not formally identified, will be receiving the SCDF Public Spiritedness Award later on Friday, the SCDF spokesman said.

nadiahmn@sph.com.sg