A 65-year-old woman in Thailand was discovered alive inside her coffin at a Buddhist temple on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, after staff preparing for her cremation heard faint knocking sounds coming from inside the sealed casket.
The incident occurred at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple in Nonthaburi province, located on the outskirts of Bangkok. The woman’s brother had transported her approximately 500 kilometers from Phitsanulok province, believing she had died two days earlier.
Pairat Soodthoop, the temple’s general and financial affairs manager, described the startling moment when staff realized someone inside the coffin was alive. He recalled asking them to open the coffin after hearing the unusual sounds.
“I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin,” Pairat told reporters. “She must have been knocking for quite some time.”
The woman had been bedridden for two years before her health deteriorated significantly. Her brother reported that she appeared to stop breathing two days prior to the temple visit, leading him to believe she had passed away. Without access to medical professionals who could officially pronounce death, he placed her body in a white coffin and began the lengthy journey to Bangkok.
The brother’s first stop was a hospital in Bangkok, where the woman had previously expressed a wish to donate her organs. However, hospital staff refused to accept the donation because he lacked an official death certificate, a legal document typically required for organ donation and cremation procedures in Thailand.
Seeking alternatives, the brother brought his sister to Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, which offers free cremation services to families in need. Temple officials, however, also declined to proceed without the proper documentation. This requirement, while creating an initial obstacle for the family, ultimately saved the woman’s life.
The critical moment came while Pairat was explaining to the brother how to obtain a death certificate. During their discussion, temple staff heard the knocking sound emanating from the coffin positioned in the back of a pickup truck. Upon opening the casket, they discovered the woman moving her arms and head slightly and opening her eyes.
Pairat described the reaction among those present, saying everyone was startled by the discovery. The temple posted video footage on its Facebook page showing the woman exhibiting subtle movements while lying in the white coffin.
Temple staff immediately assessed the woman’s condition and transported her to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The temple’s abbot committed to covering her medical expenses, demonstrating the Buddhist principle of compassion that guides many Thai religious institutions.
Medical professionals at the hospital diagnosed the woman with severe hypoglycemia, a condition characterized by critically low blood sugar levels. This medical emergency can cause symptoms that mimic death, including loss of consciousness, shallow breathing and extremely weak pulse that may be difficult to detect without proper medical equipment. Doctors confirmed she had not experienced cardiac or respiratory failure, conditions that would have been fatal.
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels, typically affecting individuals with diabetes or those experiencing prolonged periods without food. In severe cases, it can lead to unconsciousness and require immediate medical intervention. The condition is particularly dangerous for bedridden individuals who may have irregular eating patterns or underlying health conditions that affect blood sugar regulation.
The case highlights the importance of proper medical certification before cremation or burial procedures. In many countries, including Thailand, death certificates serve as crucial legal documents that verify a person has actually died and can help prevent premature cremation or burial. Medical professionals are trained to check for vital signs using specialized equipment that can detect even weak heartbeats or shallow breathing that family members might miss.
This incident joins other rare but documented cases worldwide where individuals have been mistakenly declared dead. Such events underscore the critical role healthcare professionals play in officially pronouncing death and the potential dangers when families attempt to handle remains without proper medical consultation.
The woman’s survival depended on multiple factors: the temple’s adherence to legal requirements for death certificates, the brother’s persistence in seeking both organ donation and cremation services, and the fortunate timing of the knocking sounds during the certificate discussion. Had any of these elements been different, the outcome could have been fatal.
Thai Buddhist temples commonly provide free or low-cost cremation services as part of their community support mission, particularly for families facing financial hardship. This charitable practice reflects Buddhist teachings about helping others and ensuring dignified end-of-life care for all community members, regardless of economic status.