In a startling turn of events, a 65-year-old woman in Thailand was discovered alive in her coffin just moments before her scheduled cremation at a Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Bangkok. The incident unfolded at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple, where staff were preparing for the cremation ceremony when they heard faint knocking from inside the coffin.

Discovery at the Temple

Pairat Soodthoop, the temple's general manager, recounted the shocking moment to the Associated Press. "I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled," he said. Upon opening the coffin, they found the woman slightly moving her arms and head, indicating she was still alive. The woman had been bedridden for two years, and her brother, believing she had passed away, transported her from Phitsanulok, a province 500 kilometers away, for the cremation.

Medical Emergency and Response

The woman was immediately taken to a hospital after the discovery. Medical professionals diagnosed her with severe hypoglycaemia, a condition characterized by critically low blood sugar levels. Contrary to initial fears, she had not suffered respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The temple's abbot, recognizing the urgency of the situation, ensured she received prompt medical attention and offered to cover her medical expenses.

Complications Due to Missing Documentation

The brother's lack of a death certificate had initially complicated the cremation process. He had approached the temple for their free cremation service after a hospital in Bangkok refused to accept his sister's body for organ donation without the necessary documentation. The temple staff had been explaining the procedure to obtain a death certificate when they heard the life-saving knocks from the coffin.