CHIANG RAI – A family in Chiang Rai was left speechless after a man they believed had died suddenly returned home alive, only days after they had held his funeral in Mae Fah Luang District in Chiang Rai Province.
On January 25, 2026, relatives shared that the day before, the Thap Yang Mae Chan rescue team was contacted for urgent help. They were asked to exhume a body buried in Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai, so that it could be handed to the correct relatives.
The request followed a mistake in confirming the deceased’s identity.
The confusion began when Mr. A, 48, was thought to have died in Chiang Mai. His family brought the body back and held religious rites on January 9, then buried the remains. Later, Mr. A returned to his home and appeared in front of his relatives, causing panic and disbelief.
No one expected the man whose funeral had just been held to be standing there alive.
After everyone calmed down and the details became clearer, the family coordinated with the Thap Yang Mae Chan rescue team to dig up the grave. The goal was to return the deceased person’s body to the real family in Mae Suai District, so they could carry out religious ceremonies according to their beliefs.
Authorities are now reviewing the identification process to find out where the error happened and to help prevent a similar incident in the future.
