Thought It Was a Floating Coconut, Shocked to Discover the Body of a Deceased Monk in the Canal Behind the Temple
A monk's body was discovered floating face-down in a canal behind a temple in Udon Thani Province after residents initially mistook it for a floating coconut. The 48-year-old deceased had mental health issues, refused medication, and disapp
Residents were shocked to discover what they initially mistook for a floating coconut was actually the body of a deceased monk floating face-down in a canal behind a temple. The monk had mysteriously disappeared overnight, leaving behind a trail of footprints through the rice fields between the monastery buildings.
On May 8, 2569, emergency responders reported that at 3:00 PM on May 7, the Udon Thani Emergency Response Center 191 received a report of a dead monk floating in a canal behind a temple in Na Kha Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province. Police from Na Kha Station and rescue workers from the Udon Bright Dharma Foundation rushed to investigate.
At the scene near the canal behind the temple, officials found a monk lying face-down in the water. The deceased was identified as Phra Tong, 48 years old, an ordained member of the temple. The body showed signs of decomposition, so officials cordoned off the area and carefully removed the body from the water as shocked residents gathered to witness the grim discovery.
According to a preliminary autopsy examination by the on-duty physician, Phra Tong likely died approximately one to one and a half days earlier, with no visible injuries or signs of foul play. Officials also discovered footprints leading from the monk's quarters through the rice fields to the point where the body was found, suggesting he may have walked from his cell to the canal before the incident occurred.
When questioned, Noi, 52, the first person to discover the body, said he was heading out to fish early in the morning when he noticed something floating on the water. At first, he thought it was a coconut, but upon closer inspection, he was shocked to realize it was a monk's body. He immediately called the village headman before alerting police.
Noi mentioned that he had seen the monk walking around the temple area just two days earlier. He noted that the monk was known to have mental health issues and would frequently wander through the village or disappear from the temple on a regular basis.
The village headman, who was a relative of the deceased monk, explained that Phra Tong had been ordained for some time and suffered from incomplete mental clarity. He required constant medication and medical treatment. Initially, his condition improved, but in recent months, he refused to take his medication, causing his symptoms to worsen. He experienced periods of forgetfulness and confusion, and would alternate between wearing white robes and yellow robes on different days.
About two to three months earlier, the monk had been hit by a car in Sakon Nakhon Province, and relatives had to retrieve him from the hospital. After that, he frequently attempted to travel to Sakon Nakhon. On May 6, relatives noticed him preparing his belongings as if he planned to travel again and tried to prevent him from leaving, but he disappeared shortly after. They later learned he had become the body found in the canal.
After officials retrieved the body from the water, relatives did not seek further investigation into the cause of death, as they were well aware of his mental health condition. They believe the monk likely had an accidental fall into the water and drowned. They subsequently took his body to perform merit-making rituals according to Buddhist tradition.
