A 22-year-old man named Liu Chuanyi spent three grueling days at the bottom of a 12-meter-deep well in a remote forest near the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Villagers who heard his cries for help reportedly mistook them for ghostly wails and avoided the area out of fear.
As reported by the OC news outlet, authorities believe Liu was trekking through the forest when he fell into the abandoned well, sustaining severe injuries, including a fractured wrist and a concussion.
Alone and unable to climb out, he began shouting for help.
However, after hours of futile yelling, he realized conserving his energy would be crucial to his survival. To avoid exhaustion, Liu started calling out for help just once an hour.
Tragically, nearby villagers who heard the strange cries were convinced they were the work of a ghost and refused to investigate. For three days and nights, Liu survived without food or water.
His luck changed when someone reported the eerie noises to the local police.
Officers investigating the forest found the abandoned well and were stunned to find Liu trapped at the bottom. A 30-minute rescue operation brought him to safety, though he was emaciated and dehydrated.
Liu is now recovering in the hospital, and authorities plan to question him about the circumstances leading to his ordeal once his condition improves.