71-Year-Old Survives 8-Meter Fall in Buriram Cassava Field
A 71-year-old woman in Buriram Province survived after falling into an 8-meter-deep hole in a cassava field and being buried up to her neck by collapsing soil. Rescuers and villagers spent over an hour carefully digging her out. She was hospitalized overnight for shock and abrasions but has since returned home to recover.
A 71-year-old woman fell into an 8-meter-deep hole in a cassava field and was buried up to her neck by collapsing soil. She screamed for help for over an hour before rescuers pulled her out alive, in what she describes as a second chance at life.
On November 2, 2026, reporters visited Ban Nong Mai Ngam 2, Village 10, Nong Mai Ngam Subdistrict, Ban Kruad District, Buriram Province, to speak with Thongkun, known as Grandma Kun, 71, who fell into a deep hole in a cassava field and was nearly killed when dirt collapsed up to her neck. The incident occurred on the evening of October 30 near Ban Sai Tri 16, Nong Mai Ngam Subdistrict, Ban Kruad District, Buriram Province. After the accident, the Nong Mai Ngam Subdistrict Municipality rescue unit, community leaders, village safety volunteers, civil defense volunteers, and local residents rushed to help. They found the woman trapped in a hole about 8 meters deep, with an opening about 1 meter wide that narrowed with depth. While stuck at the bottom, rocks, sand, and soil continued to fall on her, leaving only her head and neck visible. Rescuers had to carefully dig away soil and use ropes and a body harness to extract her, a process that took over an hour.
Initially, Grandma Kun suffered abrasions on her arms, legs, and back. She was weak and in shock before being taken to Ban Kruad Hospital, where she stayed one night before being discharged to recover at home.
Grandma Kun recounted the terrifying ordeal: she had been hired to help her younger brother in the cassava field for 300 baht a day. While walking to collect branches, she stepped on grass and branches, suddenly slipping into the hole without a chance to brace herself. She tried to climb out, but rocks and soil collapsed onto her, leaving only her head and neck exposed. Unable to free herself, she screamed for help, hoping relatives or nearby people would hear and alert authorities.
"I was terrified and thought I would not survive. I prayed to sacred things to let me live. I vowed that if I survived and recovered, I would offer pork, mushrooms, duck, and chicken in thanks, and the landowner also made a vow," Grandma Kun said with a trembling voice. She said the incident felt like dying and being reborn. She thanked everyone who helped, especially relatives and grandchildren present at the scene, because without them she might not have survived. She vowed never to return to work in that field.
Songsak Phaphuchatang, a village disaster prevention volunteer and member of the village protection unit, said that after receiving the alert, he coordinated with the village headman to dispatch a rescue vehicle and personnel immediately. Upon arrival, they found locals already attempting to help, but because soil and rocks continued to collapse up to her neck, they had to excavate carefully to prevent further collapse until she was safely extracted.
Sarawut Phalang, Mayor of Nong Mai Ngam Subdistrict, revealed that after learning of the incident, he visited to offer encouragement from day one and arranged for a rehabilitation doctor to provide both physical and mental care, as Grandma Kun remains anxious and shaken.
This incident serves as an important warning for those working in fields or remote areas, especially...
