SAMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND – A 62-year-old monk at a Buddhist temple in Samut Prakan was attacked and injured by a two-and-a-half-metre python before rescue workers freed him and took him to hospital.
Emergency call from Wat Mok temple
An emergency call reached the 1669 dispatch centre at 7:35 a.m., reporting that a monk at Wat Mok in Phra Pradaeng district was being attacked by a large python and needed help. Municipal rescue workers and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were dispatched and found monk Phra Withi Khamwilai lying on the ground in front of the abbot’s quarters, with a roughly 15‑kilogram constrictor wrapped around his body. The snake had bitten and tightly coiled around him, leaving him in a weakened state that required immediate intervention.
Witness account of the attack
Eyewitness Prasit Jumangmor, 71, later described what he saw.
“The monk came towards me and asked for help. The snake was wrapped around his arm and body before he lost consciousness.”
said Prasit Jumangmor, eyewitness. Rescue workers arrived at a moment when swift action was crucial and managed to free the monk from the python’s grip before his condition deteriorated further.
Monk explains why he tried to catch the python
From his hospital bed, Phra Withi recounted that he had been cleaning the temple grounds when a layperson informed him about the snake’s presence and expressed concern. Instead of calling professional wildlife handlers, he decided to catch the python himself. He admitted that he made a mistake by grabbing the animal in the middle of its body rather than securing its head, which allowed the snake enough freedom to coil around his arm and neck.
Rescue, hospital treatment and condition
The responding team gave immediate first aid at the scene and carefully removed the python from the monk’s body. He was then transported to Bang Chak Hospital for further medical treatment, where he was admitted for observation. Authorities stated that his condition was serious but stable and confirmed that he was conscious and able to give an account of the incident.
Risky habitat around the temple
The incident drew attention to recurring wildlife encounters in rural parts of Thailand. Wat Mok is situated in a lush, densely vegetated area, providing ideal conditions for various snake species, including larger pythons. The monk lived in a remote kuti, a traditional monastic hut surrounded by trees and bushes, where human–snake encounters are not uncommon, even if incidents of this severity were described as unusual.
Medical assessment and survival factors
Medical staff emphasized that the monk was fortunate. They explained that a python’s bite is not venomous but can cause injuries and possible infections that require treatment. The constriction by such a snake can lead to unconsciousness if it continues for too long, and the monk’s survival was attributed to the rapid response of the rescue workers. The temple community expressed relief at the positive outcome and thanked the emergency teams, noting that the event had heightened awareness of natural dangers in the surrounding environment.
Prevention and safety recommendations
Experts recommended several preventive steps for temples in nature-rich settings. These included regular inspections of buildings and outdoor areas for signs of snake activity, training residents in basic wildlife handling principles, and establishing an emergency system with direct contact to specialized snake rescuers. They also advised that untrained individuals should never attempt to capture snakes themselves, and local authorities were considering whether to introduce additional safety guidelines for temples in similar locations.
Pythons in Thailand: behaviour and encounters
In Thailand, several python species are native, including the reticulated python, one of the largest snakes in the world. These non‑venomous reptiles kill prey through constriction and suffocation rather than venom. They favour habitats with ample cover and nearby water, conditions often found in temple compounds with old trees, ponds and low human traffic, and are typically nocturnal, tending to avoid direct contact with people.
Rare but serious human attacks
Attacks on humans were described as extremely rare and usually occurred when the animals felt threatened or were handled incorrectly. Most pythons retreated when given the chance to escape, but the Samut Prakan case showed how an attempted intervention by a well‑intentioned person without specialist training could quickly turn dangerous. Authorities and temple residents were now weighing how to balance safety with respect for the natural environment that surrounds many religious sites.