Thai Woman Found Alive in Coffin Moments Before Temple Cremation

In a shocking and almost cinematic turn of events, a 65-year-old Thai woman was discovered alive inside a coffin at a Buddhist temple, just moments before she was scheduled for cremation.

The incident took place at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, a temple in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok. Temple staff were stunned when they heard faint knocking sounds coming from the coffin. A video shared by the temple on its Facebook page shows the woman slightly moving her arms and opening her eyes, leaving those present bewildered.

Pairat Soodthoop, the temple’s general and financial affairs manager, told The Associated Press that the woman’s brother had transported her from Phitsanulok province for cremation. “I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled. I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time,” Pairat said.

According to the brother, the woman had been bedridden for about two years, and her health reportedly deteriorated rapidly, leaving her seemingly unresponsive. Believing she had passed away, the brother placed her in a coffin and began a 500-kilometer (300-mile) journey to Bangkok, hoping to fulfill her wish to donate her organs.

However, hospital authorities refused to accept her for organ donation due to the absence of an official death certificate, prompting him to approach the temple, which offers free cremation services. It was during the process of explaining the need for proper documentation that the faint knocking was heard, ultimately saving her life.

The woman was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where she is receiving medical care. The temple abbot has pledged to cover her medical expenses, according to Pairat. Authorities are reportedly investigating the case to understand how such a near-tragic error occurred.

This extraordinary incident has sparked conversations across Thailand and social media about medical protocols, death verification, and miraculous survival, leaving many both astonished and relieved.