Grandmother, 73, Found Alive After Three Days Lost in Phetchabun Forest

Grandmother, 73, Found Alive After Three Days Lost in Phetchabun Forest

A 73-year-old woman who went missing while foraging for mushrooms in a forest in Phetchabun province has been found alive after spending three days lost in the wilderness, local authorities confirmed this week.

The woman, a resident of Kan Chu subdistrict in Bueng Sam Phan district, left her home on the morning of 2 June to search for mushrooms in a forested area near Ban Talat Mai village. When she failed to return by nightfall, relatives and neighbours began their own search, but the dense forest and rugged terrain made efforts difficult.

For many families across Thailand's rural north and northeast, foraging for mushrooms is a seasonal tradition that connects generations to the land. After seasonal rains arrive, families head into forests and fields to gather wild mushrooms — an ingredient central to Isaan and northern Thai cuisine. But each year, several foragers, particularly the elderly, become lost when familiar landmarks blend into the monsoon greenery.

Massive Search Operation Mobilised

After several days without success, local authorities launched a coordinated search operation that grew to include more than 100 personnel. Rescue volunteers, community leaders, municipal workers, and residents joined forces with specialist search teams from across the region.

Police K9 units, Border Patrol Police officers, military dog teams, and disaster response specialists were deployed alongside thermal-imaging drones that scanned the forest canopy from above. The drones proved critical — the dense foliage made ground searches slow and visibility poor, but thermal cameras could detect body heat through the undergrowth.

Bueng Sam Phan district officials coordinated the operation from a field command post near the forest edge, with search grids mapped and teams assigned to specific sectors daily. Despite the scale of the effort, the first two days yielded no sign of the missing woman.

Found Alive on the Third Day

At approximately 12:30 on 5 June, search teams finally located her sitting exhausted in the forest, approximately two kilometres from the point where she had originally disappeared. Searchers noted that the area had been covered earlier in the operation, but she had not been found there at that time — a detail that added to the mystery of her survival.

When rescuers reached her, she was weak and dehydrated but conscious. She was given water and basic first aid at the scene before being transported to Bueng Sam Phan Hospital for a full medical examination and further recovery.

Speaking to rescuers while waiting for medical evacuation, she described how she had managed to survive. With no food beyond a small amount of water she had carried with her, she relied on wild figs found growing in the forest. She said she was fortunate that rescuers found her when they did, as she was unsure how much longer she would have had the strength to endure.

A Strange Encounter in the Forest

One detail from her account has drawn particular attention among local residents. She told searchers that during her time lost in the forest, she encountered a woman who stayed with her but did not speak. She said the woman provided neither food nor assistance but remained present throughout her ordeal.

In Thai folk tradition, such encounters are not uncommon. Many rural communities believe that guardian spirits — or phrai — watch over forests and sometimes appear to lost individuals. In Buddhist-influenced Thai culture, these stories are treated with respect rather than scepticism. For local residents of Bueng Sam Phan, the detail does not detract from the miracle of her survival — it adds a layer of meaning to an already remarkable story.

The woman herself made no claim about the identity of the silent figure, simply recounting what she experienced. Rescuers noted that extended isolation, hunger, and dehydration can affect perception, but refrained from dismissing her account, recognising its significance within local beliefs.

Mushroom Foraging and the Risks of Thailand's Monsoon Season

Each year when seasonal rains begin, families across Thailand's rural provinces head into forests to gather wild mushrooms — a practice deeply embedded in local food culture and household economies. Wild mushrooms such as het khao (white mushrooms), het daeng (red mushrooms), and het pho (straw mushrooms) are prized ingredients in Thai cooking, fetching good prices at local markets.

For elderly villagers in particular, the annual mushroom season is both a source of income and a cherished tradition. Many have foraged the same forest paths for decades and know the terrain intimately. But changing weather patterns, forest regrowth after fires, and the natural disorientation that can come with age mean that each year, some foragers lose their way.

In Phetchabun province, which stretches along the Phetchabun mountain range, forests are dense and the terrain can shift quickly between steep slopes and flat valleys. Even experienced foragers can become disoriented when the canopy blocks sunlight and landmarks disappear under seasonal growth.

Local Authorities Issue Safety Reminders

Following the successful rescue, local officials in Bueng Sam Phan district have urged residents to take precautions when foraging in forest areas. Recommendations include going with a companion rather than alone, informing family members of the planned route and expected return time, carrying a mobile phone with a fully charged battery, bringing sufficient drinking water and food, and wearing bright-coloured clothing to remain visible in dense vegetation.

The district's disaster prevention office also noted that thermal-imaging drones have become an increasingly important tool in search operations across Thailand's rural areas. As drone technology becomes more accessible, more provincial authorities are incorporating them into their emergency response planning.

The successful rescue of the 73-year-old grandmother in Phetchabun serves as a reminder of both the risks and the resilience found in rural Thai communities. For her family, the relief of bringing her home safely outweighed everything else. For the community that rallied to search for her, it was a testament to the spirit of neighbourly support that remains strong in Thailand's provincial towns and villages.

By Ann Srisawat, Staff Writer