Thailand: a woman who was supposed to be cremated wakes up in her coffin

A Thai woman brought to a temple to be cremated shocked the staff when she began knocking on her coffin.

Chontirot Sakulku, a 65-year-old woman presumed dead, knocked on her coffin just before the start of her funeral at a temple near Bangkok on Sunday, November 23.

The temple staff opened the coffin and found her awake, but breathing slowly.

Premature funeral

Chontirot Sakulku, the woman who woke up in her coffin.

Her younger brother, Mongkon Sakulku, recounted that they thought Chontirot had died around 2 am, while she was unconscious in their common home located in the sub-district of Ban Dong, Chat Trakan district, Phitsanulok.

After presuming her death, Mongkon reported it to the village head, obtained a death certificate, and placed her body in a coffin.

The brother then traveled nearly 500 kilometers to Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, where the woman had previously expressed her wish to donate her body, but the hospital demanded an autopsy and refused to accept the body.

Mongkon then took Chontirot to Rat Prakong Dham temple in the neighboring province of Nonthaburi because it offers a free cremation service.

But as the temple staff moved the coffin, they heard knocks from inside.

Upon opening the coffin, they were astonished to see Chontirot still alive.

She was immediately rushed to Bang Yai Hospital for a comprehensive medical examination.

Mr. Thamanun Sudthup, an employee in charge of receiving bodies at Wat Rat Prakong Tham temple, recounted:

"As I was about to lift the tarp, I heard knocking from inside the coffin.

Upon opening it, I found the grandmother regaining consciousness and breathing weakly.

I rushed her to Bang Yai Hospital.

She was conscious but still weak."

The woman found alive was actually suffering from hypoglycemia

Rescuers are taking care of Chontirot Sakulku, the woman who woke up in her coffin.

Doctors confirmed that Chontirot showed no signs of respiratory arrest.

Her symptoms were consistent with hypoglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar levels fall below normal.

The village chief acknowledges an assessment error

Rescuers and a monk are taking care of Chontirot Sakulku, the woman who woke up in her coffin.

Wutthinarong Chanrat, head of village No. 9, Ban Nam Thong Noi, in the Chattrakarn district of Phitsanulok, admitted that he had not examined the woman thoroughly.

Knowing that she had been bedridden for two years under her brother's care, he assumed she was dead, as her relatives believed, and issued a death certificate so that her body could be given to Bangkok Hospital, in accordance with her wishes.

The temple offers its support and the family expresses gratitude

A relative and rescuers urgently transport an elderly woman to a hospital after discovering she was still alive moments before she was to be cremated at a temple in Nonthaburi on November 23, 2025.

According to Pairat Soodthoop, general and financial director of Rat Prakong Tham temple, the abbot said the temple would cover her medical expenses.

Mongkon told the media that once his sister recovered, he planned to return to the temple to make an offering and thank the staff and monks for their help.

See also:

Woman comes back to life at funeral in Thailand

Fake funerals in Thailand to attract good luck

Unusual: Man attends his own funeral, family in shock

Source: Daily News