Singapore navy amputee Jason Chee receives letter from Arsenal Football Club
He survived a terrible accident at sea which took his limbs, and even became a successful national para-athlete.
The inspiring story of Singaporean navy regular Jason Chee has warmed hearts far and wide -- all the way to England, it seems, and the Arsenal Football Club which he has been a 'die-hard supporter' of since he was 14.
Chee, 30, received the mail of his life on Wednesday evening, in the form of a goodwill package sent from the Premier League side.
The box of gifts included autographed memorabilia and a letter signed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger himself.
An understandably excited Chee posted the above photo on his Facebook page and exclaimed: "UNBELIEVABLE!!! I AM SUPER SURPRISED AND SUPER HAPPY!!!"
The wheelchair-bound serviceman, ranked Military Expert 2, quickly followed with a post on Arsenal's official Facebook page. He said:
"Want to take this opportunity to say a BIG BIG BIG THANKS for the best wishes that your Arsenal team have given to me!!! Hope we can communicate in the future... I will watch your first match against Crystal Palace this coming weekend!!! And every of your games for the season 2014/2015!!! Wishing Arsenal Football Team every success!!! Hope to see my Arsenal Football Team to visit Singapore one day!!! (sic)"
Chee, whose favourite player is retired Arsenal and Netherlands winger Marc Overmars, told Yahoo he was clueless as to how the club had come to know of him. "'I guess someone helped me... someone might have written in to Arsenal," he said.
The work of a mystery admirer, then, but certainly a deserving reward for Chee, who lost both legs, his left arm and three right fingers during a routine ship exercise which went awry back in December 2012.
Less than six months later, the natural left-hander picked up a table tennis bat with what remained of his right arm and started training. He went on to represent Singapore at the ASEAN Para Games in early 2014 and dreams of qualifying for the 2016 Paralympics.
Chee's big quest now has an extra dose of motivation, with the world watching and cheering him on. He later added, on Facebook: "Thank you Arsenal Football Club!!! I am so touched!!!"
