A shocking incident in Thailand has left temple staff and family members stunned after a woman, believed to be deceased, was found alive in her coffin just hours before her scheduled cremation. The incident occurred at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, a Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok.

Woman Found Alive in Coffin

The temple shared a video on its Facebook page showing the 65-year-old woman lying in a white coffin in the back of a pickup truck, moving her head and arms slightly. The unexpected movement left temple staff and family members bewildered.

Temple manager Pairat Soodthoop, who oversees general and financial affairs, told the Associated Press that the woman’s brother had driven her from Phitsanulok province, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) away, for cremation.

“I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled,” Pairat said.
“I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time.”

Health Background

The woman had been bedridden for around two years, and her condition worsened in the days leading up to the incident. She had reportedly become unresponsive and appeared to stop breathing two days prior. Her brother initially sought to donate her organs to a Bangkok hospital, as she had wished, but the hospital refused because he lacked an official death certificate.

The family then approached Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, which offers free cremation services, only to be turned away again due to the missing document. It was during discussions about obtaining a death certificate that the faint knocking from the coffin was heard, prompting immediate medical attention.

Medical Assessment and Diagnosis

The temple quickly sent the woman to a nearby hospital, where doctors determined that she had not suffered cardiac or respiratory failure. Instead, she was diagnosed with severe hypoglycemia, a condition of critically low blood sugar, which likely caused her weakened and unresponsive state.

The temple’s abbot confirmed that the temple would cover her medical expenses, ensuring that she received immediate care following the startling discovery.

Reactions and Significance

The incident highlights the importance of careful medical assessment, even when a person appears unresponsive. It also underscores the dedication of family members and temple staff in navigating both cultural practices and healthcare requirements in Thailand.

Temple staff described the moment as “startling” and emphasized their relief that the woman was alive, adding that such occurrences are exceedingly rare.