bangkok, Thailand – In an remarkable turn of events, a 65-year-old Thai woman was discovered alive inside a coffin on Sunday, November 23, 2025, moments before her scheduled cremation. The incident occurred at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple after the woman’s brother transported her from the province of Phitsanulok, believing her to be deceased.
The extraordinary case highlights the complexities surrounding death declarations and organ donation procedures, and raises questions about medical assessment in cases of prolonged illness. The woman,who had been bedridden for approximately two years,had reportedly become unresponsive two days prior to being placed in the coffin. Her brother intended to transport her to a Bangkok hospital for potential organ donation, fulfilling a prior wish.
According to Pairat Soodthoop, the temple’s general and financial affairs manager, the brother initially sought cremation services due to the hospital’s refusal to accept the body without an official death certificate. “I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled,” Soodthoop 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.”
The brother explained that his sister’s health had deteriorated considerably, leading him to believe she had stopped breathing. Though, faint knocking sounds emanating from the coffin prompted temple staff to investigate. After assessing her condition, they promptly transported the woman to a nearby hospital.
The temple’s abbot has pledged to cover the woman’s medical expenses as she receives care. The incident underscores the importance of thorough medical examinations and the potential for misdiagnosis in cases of severe illness and unresponsiveness.