In regard to the original topic, back in my NS days (nong nong ago), all SAF related deaths and serious accidents were covered up. Unlike today, total news blackouts on such incidents were extended to all forms of media. SAF back then (before the internet became common) was extremely anal about public perceptions that and it would do anything to avoid "embarassment".
I remember clearly when I was doing BMT in Tekong (called ITD back then), a recruit in my company died of severe heat exhaustion during an 8km "forced march". That night before we sleep, we were at first "tekan" hard with lots of runnings, push-ups, and the now banned "change parade". Later we were warned by the company OC that we must never ever tell anyone, including our family members, about the recruit's death. He said this order came from the "top" and anyone who disobeyed would be charged. And before we booked out for the weekend, we were put through the same treatment. Anyway, we still went back and told everyone!
