PHETCHABUN — 5 June 2026, a 73-year-old woman who went missing while foraging for mushrooms in a forest in Bueng Sam Phan district has been found alive after spending three days lost in the wilderness.
The woman left her home in Kan Chu subdistrict to search for mushrooms in a forested area near Ban Talat Mai village on 2 June. She failed to return, prompting relatives and villagers to launch a search.
After several days without success, local authorities, rescue volunteers, community leaders and residents joined forces with specialist search teams. More than 100 personnel took part in the operation, supported by thermal-imaging drones, police K9 units, Border Patrol Police officers, military dog teams and disaster response specialists.
At approximately 12:30 on 5 June, search teams located Yai Chan sitting exhausted in the forest, around 2 km from the point where she had disappeared. Searchers noted that the area had previously been covered during the operation, but she had not been found there earlier.
While waiting to be taken to hospital, Yai Chan recounted her experience. She said that during her time lost in the forest, she encountered a woman who stayed with her but did not speak. According to Yai Chan, the woman provided neither food nor assistance.
To survive, she relied on wild figs and a small amount of water she had with her. 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.
Rescuers transported Yai Chan to Bueng Sam Phan Hospital for a medical examination and further recovery.