Another Kpod Zombie? – Man Stumbles and Falls Backward on MRT

A recent TikTok video has garnered attention after capturing a man in white appearing visibly disoriented inside an MRT train.

In the clip, the man is seen swaying unsteadily as he approaches the train doors, seemingly attempting to alight.

However, just as the doors open, he falls backwards onto the train floor, landing on his back.

The man was also seen struggling to get back up on his two feet.

The video was captioned “kpod final boss,” suggesting the man may have been under the influence of a substance.

While the visuals led many to speculate, there is no direct evidence in the video that confirms this man was using any form of vape or drug.

What the Internet Thinks: Kpod, Health Issue, or Just Numb Legs?

The clip quickly went viral and saw an outpouring of reactions in the comments.

Some suggested the video was a clear sign of the effects of vaping illicit substances, while others pointed to more innocent or medical explanations.

A few commenters were quick to blame drug use.

One questioned why so many people are drawn to ‘kpods,’ dismissing it as a dangerous trend that often ends in hospitalisation or even legal trouble.

Another expressed concern over how such substances are “taking over teens’ lives,” warning that the problem is escalating.

Others pushed back, offering alternative explanations.

One user suggested the man may have just woken up and was experiencing temporary numbness in his legs, hence his swaying.

Another theorized that standing up too fast could have caused blood to rush to his head, leaving him momentarily disoriented.

Several viewers called for empathy instead of judgment.

“Maybe he’s unwell,” one person wrote.

While another asked, “How do you know it’s kpod and not a medical issue?”

One especially concerned comment urged that MRT staff be alerted, warning that someone in such a state could pose a danger to themselves or others in crowded public spaces.

“Imagine if he falls from the top of an escalator,” the comment says. “How many people are going to get hurt?”

Kpods and the Reality Behind “Zombie Vapes”

The term “kpod” has become increasingly common in Singapore’s social media slang.

It often refers to illicit vape cartridges, sometimes called “zombie vapes,” that contain etomidate, a sedative typically used in hospital settings for anesthesia.

There have been multiple cases in Singapore where young people have acted erratically or even collapsed after using such substances.

In one particularly alarming case, a 28-year-old woman died in a car crash after she and the driver, a 30-year-old man, were found with etomidate in their blood.

Vaping: Not as Safe as It Looks

Even if the man in the video was not using ‘kpods,’ the conversation has raised concerns about the general perception of vaping as a “safe” alternative to smoking.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, vaping can lead to serious health problems such as:

lung damage,
addiction,
and even a condition called EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury).

Common symptoms of EVALI include:

coughing,
chest pain,
shortness of breath,
fever, and nausea.

In severe cases, it can be fatal. The clinic also warns that substances found in e-liquids can damage the brain, heart, and lungs, even in products that claim to be nicotine-free.

Singapore’s Push to Get Vapes Off the Streets

In response to the surge in illegal e-vaporisers, Singapore kicked off the “Bin the Vape” campaign on July 25 to urge users to discard them at designated red bins.

The campaign encourages users to voluntarily dispose of their vapes in red collection bins set up at selected locations.

Photo courtesy of Tan Kiat How on Facebook

By July 29.East Coast GRC MP Tan Kiat How shared that the bin at Heartbeat@Bedok was already filled past the halfway point.

“I’m heartened that many have stepped forth to voluntarily dispose of their e-vaporisers,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “The bin has since been emptied by the Health Sciences Authority in a safe manner.”

He urged more people to come forward during the campaign period and take the first step towards quitting the habit.

Judgement or Help?

Whether the man in the video was unwell, dizzy, or under the influence of a substance, the man’s fall has sparked a wave of reactions.

On one hand, there’s valid concern about the spread of illicit vaping products like ‘kpods.’ On the other hand, it is unfair to jump to conclusions about someone’s condition based on a brief clip.

Watch the video here: