Ayutthaya: An 81-year-old grandmother was found floating some 20 kilometres from her home after she jumped into the swollen Chao Phraya River in a botched suicide attempt.
The woman, identified as Grandma Ree, was found hanging onto a fish basket amid the river's strong currents in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya district early on Tuesday.
After being rescued by a fish farmer, she was examined by paramedics who declared she was in a safe condition, said Apichart Suksomboon, chairman of the Ban Pom tambon administrative organisation.
Grandma Ree said she jumped into the river around 3am on Tuesday with the intention of ending her life.
However, she did not sink in the water but stayed afloat.
A strong current carried her 20km from her house to Bang Pa-in district where she washed up against the fish basket and was then helped by the fish farmer.
According to Mr Apichart, Grandma Ree said she wanted to end her own life because she was under heavy stress from ill-health and felt neglected by her children.
Sompong Kansorn, 49, an assistant village headman, said Grandma Ree's family alerted local leaders after she had gone missing.
A search party was mounted only to be told a few hours later that she had been located in a downstream district.