In an event that defies belief, a woman scheduled for cremation at a Thai temple was discovered to be alive after staff heard a faint knocking sound coming from inside her coffin.
A Startling Discovery at the Temple
The extraordinary incident unfolded on Sunday at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, a Buddhist temple located in Nonthaburi province on the outskirts of Bangkok. According to the temple's general and financial affairs manager, Pairat Soodthoop, the 65-year-old woman had been transported from Phitsanulok province by her brother for the final rites.
Staff were preparing for the service when they heard an unexpected noise. "A faint knock coming from the coffin" was detected shortly before subtle movements were observed from within. Video footage shared by the temple on Facebook showed the woman, lying in a white coffin in the back of a pick-up truck, slightly moving her arms and head.
The Journey to the Temple
Pairat explained the tragic backstory that led to this moment. The woman's brother reported that his sister had been bedridden for approximately two years. Her health had severely deteriorated, and she had become unresponsive, appearing to stop breathing two days prior.
Believing her to be deceased, the brother placed her in a coffin and embarked on the 500-kilometre (300-mile) journey to a hospital in Bangkok. He was acting on his sister's previous wish to donate her organs. However, the hospital refused the offer because the brother did not possess an official death certificate.
Subsequently, the brother approached Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, which offers a free cremation service. The temple also turned him away on Sunday due to the missing documentation. It was while Pairat was explaining the procedure for obtaining a death certificate that the fateful knocking was heard.
Immediate Rescue and Aftermath
"I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled," Pairat told The Associated Press on Monday. "I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time."
An emergency rescue team was swiftly called to the scene. They assessed the woman's condition and transported her to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. In a remarkable act of compassion, the temple's abbot declared that Wat Rat Prakhong Tham would cover all of her medical expenses.
This astonishing case highlights critical issues surrounding the verification of death and has left a community in Thailand profoundly thankful for a second chance at life.
