In an event that has left medical professionals and religious authorities stunned, a 65-year-old woman miraculously awakened inside her coffin just moments before her scheduled cremation at a Buddhist temple in Thailand.
The Temple Discovery That Shocked Everyone
Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple in Nonthaburi province became the scene of an extraordinary medical phenomenon on Sunday, November 23, when staff members preparing for a cremation ceremony noticed unusual movements from within a white coffin. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, had been transported from Phitsanulok province by her brother for what was supposed to be her final rites.
Temple manager Pairat Soodthoop described the chilling moment to The Associated Press on Monday, November 24. "We heard a faint knock coming from the coffin," he recalled. "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."
Two-Year Health Struggle and Presumed Death
According to family accounts shared with temple authorities, the elderly woman had been bedridden for approximately two years before her condition dramatically worsened. Her brother reported that she had become completely unresponsive and appeared to stop breathing two days prior to the scheduled cremation.
Believing his sister had passed away, the brother placed her in a coffin and embarked on the 500-kilometer journey from Phitsanulok to Bangkok. His intention was to honor his sister's previous wish to donate her organs to a hospital in the capital city.
Hospital and Temple Refusals Lead to Miracle Discovery
The hospital in Bangkok refused to accept the body because the brother couldn't produce an official death certificate. This bureaucratic requirement ultimately saved the woman's life.
The brother then approached Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple, which offers free cremation services, on November 23. Temple manager Pairat explained they also refused to proceed without the proper documentation. "While I was explaining how to get a death certificate, we heard the knocking from inside the casket," Pairat stated.
Temple staff immediately assessed the woman's condition and arranged for her transfer to a nearby hospital. In a remarkable display of compassion, Pairat announced that the temple would cover all her medical expenses.
This extraordinary case highlights the importance of proper medical certification and has sparked discussions about protocols for determining death in cases of prolonged illness.
