Shocking discovery at the temple
A 65‑year‑old woman in Thailand was found alive — inside her coffin — just moments before her cremation at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok. Temple staff heard faint knocks and discovered the woman moving slightly, prompting immediate action.
The journey and misunderstanding
The woman had been bedridden for around two years, and her younger brother believed she had died after she became unresponsive two days earlier in their home province of Phitsanulok. Without a formal death certificate, he placed her in a white coffin and transported her approximately 300‑500 km to the temple for a free cremation service. She was initially taken to a Bangkok hospital so her organs could be donated — in line with her previously expressed wishes — but the hospital declined because a death certificate was missing.
Moment of rescue
As staff explained to the family how to obtain the required death certificate, they heard a faint knocking sound coming from inside the coffin. Upon opening the lid, they saw the woman open her eyes and slightly move her head and arms. The temple’s general and financial affairs manager, Pairat Soodthoop, later 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.” She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation, where she was found to have very low blood sugar but showed no signs of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.
Aftermath and implications
The temple has pledged to cover her medical expenses. The incident has sparked questions about how death is certified, the protocols for declaring someone deceased, and the cultural practices around burial and cremation in Thailand. The family described the moment as nothing short of a miracle, expressing shock and relief that the woman was still alive.
Broader reflections
- The case highlights the importance of official medical certification of death before funeral or cremation procedures begin.
- It underscores risks when formal documentation is missing and reliance is placed solely on family observation or assumption.
- It may prompt local authorities and religious institutions in Thailand to review their checks and safeguards before cremation.
- For the woman and her family, what should have been a final farewell became a second chance — albeit under startling circumstances.
