Teresa Teng’s hotel butler recalls day of her death
It’s almost 31 years since legendary singer Teresa Teng had an asthma attack and passed away in a hotel room in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Recently, the hotel butler that served her that day finally spilled it all on Chinese social media. Speaking to a RedNote influencer, the butler, Billy recalled that Teng had an asthma attack in the shower at the hotel room. She had just gotten back after exercising, and didn’t have medications within reach. Her partner Paul Quilery was also away. There was also a traffic jam on the way to the hospital, so she unfortunately missed the life-saving golden window.
Teresa Teng’s beautiful singing voice reverberates, almost 31 years on. Details of that fateful day when she passed away remain shrouded in mystery. That’s until recently, when Billy, the hotel butler that served her in Chiang Mai, gave an interview with a Chinese influencer on RedNote.
- I called the manager, and the manager told us to send her to the hospital.
- She didn’t have meds with her?
- No, she didn’t. She would’ve been okay with just one pump. But on that day Ms. Teresa Teng didn’t have easy access to her inhaler.
- But had she used it at any point that day?
- No.
- But what happened could’ve been avoided had she used it, right?
- I understand.
The legendary singer passed away on May 8, 1995 from an asthma attack in a hotel in Chiang Mai. The butler recalls that on the day she died, he had entered her room and asked her what else she wanted for breakfast. In the afternoon, Teng had returned to her room to shower after exercising. That was when she had an asthma attack. She didn’t have an inhaler within reach, and her partner Paul Quilery was also away.
- We rushed her to the hospital, but there was a traffic jam, so we missed the golden window. She could not be resuscitated at the hospital, and soon afterwards, well…
- It was really rushed. By then, she had spasms and numbness in the limbs.
- Yes, spasms and numbness. The doctor also said she hadn’t seen the doctor in a long time.
After Teng died, Billy was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the hotel. However, being unable to save the singer prompted him to learn emergency first aid skills. That way, he would be able to help should he ever run into a similar incident again.
Lin Yung-zen
Immunologist
Asthma patients could get an asthma attack anytime and anywhere, and so patients are advised to carry medications that expand the trachea at all times. Patients are especially prone to attacks when they inhale polluted air, after strenuous exercise, or when they inhale cold air.
Although Teresa Teng passed away all too soon, her music and images remain in the heart of fans worldwide.
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2026-04-02
