Thai Woman Knocks from Coffin to Avoid Cremation

Miraculous Escape from Near-Cremation in Bangkok

A 65-year-old Thai woman narrowly escaped being cremated alive after temple workers heard her knocking from inside her coffin at a Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Bangkok. The incident, which occurred at the Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple, has drawn international attention to the importance of proper death certification procedures.

According to temple director Pairat Soodthoop, who spoke with Associated Press, staff members were preparing for the cremation when they detected faint knocking sounds coming from the coffin. 'We heard soft knocking and decided to open the casket immediately,' Soodthoop recounted. 'To our astonishment, we found the woman slightly opening her eyes and tapping on the side of the coffin.'

Family's Tragic Misunderstanding

The woman's brother, who had been caring for her in recent years as her health deteriorated, explained that on Saturday she appeared to have stopped breathing. Believing she had passed away, he placed her in a coffin and traveled with family members 500 kilometers from their home to Bangkok. The family intended to honor her wish to donate her organs to a hospital in the capital city.

However, the hospital refused the organ donation because the brother couldn't provide a death certificate. This led them to the Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple, which offers free cremation services to those in need. 'We were explaining the death certificate process when we heard the knocking,' Soodthoop told reporters.

Medical Explanation for the Phenomenon

Medical professionals later determined that the woman had experienced a severe hypoglycemic episode, a condition where blood sugar levels drop dangerously low. Dr. Somchai Pongprapapan, a physician involved in her case, explained: 'Severe hypoglycemia can cause a person to appear deceased - their breathing becomes undetectable, pulse weakens dramatically, and they become unresponsive. This condition is particularly dangerous for elderly patients with pre-existing health issues.'

The temple has committed to covering all hospital expenses for the woman's treatment and recovery. Hospital officials confirmed she is now in stable condition and receiving appropriate medical care.

Livestream Captures the Drama

Adding to the extraordinary nature of the event, the temple had been livestreaming the preparation for the cremation ceremony. According to the Bangkok Post, viewers witnessed the moment temple workers discovered the woman was still alive. The temple later posted footage on Facebook showing the woman being transported to the hospital via ambulance.

This incident has sparked discussions about death verification protocols in Thailand, particularly in rural areas where access to medical professionals might be limited. Health authorities are reminding the public that only qualified medical personnel should declare someone deceased.

The woman's remarkable survival story serves as both a medical cautionary tale and a reminder of the importance of proper death certification procedures. As one local health official noted: 'This could have ended tragically if not for the attentive temple staff who took the time to investigate the unusual sounds.'