Bangkok: A Chinese man endured a harrowing three days trapped in an abandoned well in Thailand after his desperate cries for help were mistaken for ghostly wails by locals, according to Thai media reports.
The incident occurred in the rural province of Lopburi, Thailand, where the man, identified as a 45-year-old tourist, fell into the 10-meter-deep well while exploring the area alone. The well, hidden by overgrown vegetation, had been out of use for years and was located near a sparsely populated village.
Residents reportedly heard faint cries from the direction of the abandoned well but dismissed them as eerie noises or ghostly sounds, a belief rooted in local folklore about haunted wells. Some villagers, spooked by the sounds, avoided the area entirely, fearing it was cursed.
The man’s ordeal ended when a farmer passing by decided to investigate after hearing the faint cries. Peering into the well, he discovered the trapped man and immediately alerted local authorities. Rescue teams arrived at the scene and managed to lift the man out of the well using ropes and a harness.
The man was dehydrated, weak, and disoriented but had no major injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Officials reported that he survived by drinking small amounts of water pooled at the bottom of the well.
Speaking through a translator, the man expressed relief and gratitude to his rescuers, stating that he had lost his way and accidentally fallen into the well while trying to find a path back to the main road.
The incident has since sparked conversations in the community about the dangers of abandoned wells and the role of superstitions in delaying the rescue. Authorities have pledged to inspect and secure unused wells in the area to prevent similar accidents in the future.
While the man has been released from the hospital and is recovering, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rational investigation over superstition in emergency situations.
