Johnson Progress

A shocking incident occurred in Thailand when a 65-year-old woman, presumed dead, was found alive in her coffin just moments before her scheduled cremation.

The woman, who had been bedridden for nearly two years, was brought to Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, by her brother, who believed she had passed away.

According to Pairat Soodthoop, the temple’s general and financial affairs manager, the staff were preparing for the cremation ceremony when they heard a faint knock from the coffin.

“I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open it,” Pairat recalled.

“I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time,” he added.

The woman’s brother had placed her in the coffin and driven nearly 500 kilometers from Phitsanulok to Bangkok to honor her wish to donate her organs.

However, the hospital declined to accept her body due to the lack of an official death certificate.

The temple, which offers free cremations, also refused to proceed without the necessary documents.

As Pairat was explaining how to obtain the death certificate, the mourners suddenly heard another knock from the coffin.

Staff quickly opened it, confirmed she was alive, and rushed her to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.

Doctors later diagnosed the woman with severe hypoglycemia, or critically low blood sugar, which had caused her to become unresponsive.

The temple’s abbot has confirmed that the temple will cover her medical expenses, ensuring the shocking incident ends with compassion rather than tragedy.

The incident has sparked widespread interest in Thailand, highlighting potential gaps in end-of-life procedures.

The woman, identified as Chonthirat Sakulkoo, remains in stable condition at the hospital, receiving treatment for her condition.