UWS, which was once a major attraction at the Sentosa Island, was shut down in June and the victim, Philip Chan, was said to have been working on moving the stingrays, along with other marine life, when the tragic incident occurred.
The tabloid reported that it was believed to be the first time that a person had been killed by a stingray in Singapore.
A spokesman for UWS said Chan died of his injuries at the Singapore General Hospital.
The loss of Chan, who was in his 60s, was considered a major blow to UWS, where he had also served as senior supervisor of the curatorial department.
Following the announcement of the closure of UWS in June, Chan was interviewed by local media and spoke of his love for all the marine life there.
“I treat them like my babies. They are so quietly tame, so it is sad to say goodbye.
“We intend to find them the best homes and environment. The next time I see them, I might not recognise them any more but if I dive, they might recognise me,” he was quoted as saying by TNP.
Chan had been working with UWS since it opened in 1991. He was a popular feature at the former Sentosa attraction, getting into the water in his scuba gear to feed the stingrays, sharks and other marine life, as the visitors watched.
Tributes have been pouring for Chan on social media, especially Facebook, since the news of his tragic death broke yesterday.
According to TNP, UWS was the largest tropical fish oceanariumin in Asia when it opened in May 1991, but the crowds started dwindling, eventually leading to its closure on June 27, with the opening of the newer SEA Aquarium and Universal Studios Singapore theme park, in Sentosa in the past decade.
Chan’s death also brought back memories of Steve Irwin, a former Australian TV personality who was better known as the Crocodile Hunter.
He too, died after being stung in the heart by a stingray while shooting a documentary called “Ocean’s Deadliest” in the waters of Batt Reef, Queensland on Sept 4, 2006.