By Sujin Thomas
WHAT was to have been a joyous birthday celebration for the Shagimardanov family in their Telok Kurau condominium on Tuesday ended in mourning instead.
The family entered birthday boy Danil's room on the morning of his 16th birthday, all psyched up to wake him up with the birthday song.
His 18-year-old brother was even armed with a video camera to capture the moment his brother would wake up.
But the family's second son, a talented flautist with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) did not stir.
He was dead in his bed.
The family's horrific experience began at about 7.45am, when Mr Zufar Shagimardanov, 41, his wife Eleana, 43, and eldest son Albert, 18, entered Danil's room.
Mr and Mrs Shagimardanov, themselves accomplished musicians from Uzbekistan's Tashkent State Conservatory, respectively launched into musical accompaniment for the song with a guitar and viola. Albert's video camera whirred.
They played the song once through, but Danil did not move. The song was played a second time - this time louder.
Still, the Broadrick Secondary School student lay on his side, his back to his family.
It was then that Mrs Shagimardanov noticed that his right arm was blue. Moving in to check on him, she saw that his face was also blue, and that he was not breathing.
She became hysterical and ran to call the paramedics while her husband frantically performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until help arrived 10 minutes later.
Mr Shagimardanov said at his son's wake at The Garden Of Remembrance in Chua Chu Kang yesterday: 'It was a complete shock to us. I had to react to do something as everyone stood there helpless.'
Danil was pronounced dead at Changi General Hospital about an hour later.
Cardiorespiratory failure was listed as the cause of death.
The results of the post-mortem will not be known for another couple of months.
For now, Mr Shagimardanov does not know why his apparently healthy son is dead. His wife was too distraught to speak to reporters.
Monday, the day before he died, had started out happy for Danil: He received his examination results and found out that he had passed all his subjects well.
Later that evening, however, his father stopped him from playing computer games as punishment for spending Sunday night out with a friend without first seeking permission.
Mr Shagimardanov said at the wake: 'He was angry with me. When this sort of thing happens, he usually doesn't speak to me for some time.'
Danil watched some DVDs instead and went to bed at around 11pm. That was the last time Mr Shagimardanov saw his son alive.
The couple, who are now permanent residents, arrived here from Uzbekistan in 1998 to teach music at private schools.
The other members of their household are their third son, Aleksander, two, and Mrs Shagimardanov's mother, 72.
Mr Shagimardanov said of Danil: 'He was very talented and kind to everyone. He even took care of his grandmother because she can't get around easily.'
Flautist Marcus Tay, 20, a full-time national serviceman who played with Danil in the SNYO's flute section, said: 'I was shocked when I heard that he had died. He was serious about music and was a very promising musician.'
About 70 SNYO musicians and Danil's former classmates from Telok Kurau Primary School, as well as about 40 of his Broadrick Secondary School classmates, accompanied by seven teachers, were at the wake.
Broadrick principal M.S. Ja'afar, describing Danil as a very good student, said teachers have counselled his classmates. The school observed a minute's silence in the school hall on Wednesday.
A teary-eyed Mr Shagimardanov said: 'Danil spent a lot of time with Aleksander. Maybe he doesn't understand that Danil isn't here with us any more.'
The teenager will be cremated at 4.30pm today at Mandai Crematorium.
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It never ever makes sense, does it, especially when someone so young, fit & healthy passes on. It's such a tragedy. More so when the one who passed on is none other than my violin teacher's own son.
OK, that's not the point. The point is this - the fragility of life. I remember when I was in school, the scary principal used to tell us this "today is the first day of my life". Because we are always filled with enthusiasm & life at the start/beginning of something new. She taught us to live everyday to the fullest. How true. Afterall, we never know which day is the last.
So much for complaining, so much for wishing this & that. I think it only puts things into perspective for me. While I hate getting up early to go to work, I thank God that I'm alive & breathing each morning when I open my eyes for the day. While there are many things I wish I could change or wish were better for me, I thank God that He has given me each day to live. Most of all, I thank God for the people around me, the people who love & care for me.
At the end of the day, this is the call. We live each day, as though it were the first & last day, we live our best, we love our best & we do our best, however joyful, however painful. We will not get the chance to pass this way again. Even if it means taking risks & jumping into the unknown, we still live it. One life, and one life only.
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By the way, it's my brother's birthday today.
HEY BOY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I miss you loads. It's been ages since we all celebrated birthdays as a family. I miss having that little cake from Jack's or whatever confectionery shop at the town centre & that little candle on the cake. Can't wait for December & that week where all of us will be in the house again :)
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