In a surprising turn of events, a woman presumed dead was discovered to be alive inside her coffin just moments before her cremation ceremony was scheduled to commence. The incident unfolded when employees at a temple noticed movement emanating from the woman’s coffin, leading them to uncover a 65-year-old Thai woman named Chonthirat Sakulkoo still breathing inside. Chonthirat, who had been bedridden for two years with declining health, had been mistakenly declared deceased, according to her brother Mongkol Sakulkoo.
Mongkol expressed his shock, stating that officials had confirmed his sister’s passing, prompting them to prepare her for cremation and transport her to the temple. The dramatic revelation occurred at Wat Rat Prakongtham Temple in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, where temple staff insisted on obtaining an official death certificate before proceeding with the cremation.
During discussions with the family, a faint knocking sound was detected emanating from the coffin, prompting the staff to open it and discover Chonthirat alive, albeit in a deep unresponsive state. Following a swift assessment of her condition, she was swiftly transported to Bang Yai Hospital for further evaluation. Medical professionals determined that Chonthirat had experienced severe hypoglycemia, causing her to lapse into a state resembling death due to dangerously low blood sugar levels.
Following medical intervention, Chonthirat’s family was informed that she was stable enough to return home, although doctors recommended continued monitoring before her return to Phitsanulok in northern Thailand. The incident has sparked public interest, underscoring potential shortcomings in end-of-life protocols as the family had relied on local declarations of death and non-medical documentation to transport Chonthirat to the temple, a process inadequate for formal medical procedures.