Abbot claims black magic nailed him

UTTARADIT: A temple abbot was admitted to hospital after doctors found nails in his stomach for the second time in two months.

Phra Athikananuwat Wisutho, 32, abbot of Wat Hat Song Khwai in Tha Pla District, was admitted to Uttaradit Hospital on July 7 after an X-ray found five 3- to 4-inch nails in his stomach.

The director of Utaradit Hospital, Dr Thianchai Khorayothin, said doctors were hoping the nails would pass through the monk’s intestines naturally, avoiding the need for surgery.

The nails are not the first unusual foreign objects to appear in Phra Athikananuwat’s stomach this year.

Two months ago, Phra Athikananuwat was admitted to the same facility after an X-ray revealed two two-inch nails and a pin in his intestines.

Doctors surgically removed the objects and the monk was allowed to resume his duties at the temple.

Phra Athikananuwat said he did not swallow the nails and that he believed black magic had made them appear in his stomach.

But his doctors are convinced that the abbot deliberately swallowed the nails.