A 35-year-old woman bought 12 catfish to release into the Bang Pakong River. Seeing some fish stuck in the mud, she feared committing a sin and decided to wade in to help. In the end, the fish were saved but she became trapped in the mud, turning into a victim herself.
On 18 Jun 2026 GMT+7, reports stated that in the afternoon of 17 Jun, Chachoengsao rescue officials received an emergency call about a woman trapped in mud by the Bang Pakong River under Barami Sothon Bridge, Bang Tin Ped Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chachoengsao province. They quickly proceeded to the scene.
Upon arrival, they found a woman about 35 years old standing stuck mid-mud along the riverbank of the Bang Pakong River, submerged up to half her body and unable to move or return to shore. Officials asked if she could help herself, but she confirmed she could not walk back. Three rescue workers then waded into the mud, used a slide board to support her, helped her lie down, and carefully pulled her back to shore.
Nakhon Sinharit, a Chachoengsao rescue official, revealed that after receiving a radio alert about a person stuck in mud along the Bang Pakong River, they investigated and found a woman facing away from the river about 20 meters from shore in mud at low tide, unable to move.
Upon inquiry, it was learned that the woman had traveled from Bangkok with friends to make merit and tour Chachoengsao province. She bought 12 catfish intending to release them into the Bang Pakong River as a merit-making act. However, after releasing the fish near the riverbank, some catfish remained stuck in the mud and could not swim into the river.
Fearing it would be sinful to leave the fish stuck, the woman decided to remove her shoes and wade into the mud to help the catfish reach the water, thinking the mud would not be deep there. However, she sank deeper as she walked, eventually getting stuck halfway up her body and unable to walk back despite trying for some time. Her friends then called for rescue assistance.
Nevertheless, the mission to rescue the catfish was successful, as all 12 fish swam into the Bang Pakong River as intended. Meanwhile, the woman’s status changed from “merit maker” to “rescue victim.”