People on the internet are expressing disbelief after learning about the duration for which a freediver managed to hold his breath.
Breaking a world record is no small feat, especially in the realm of extreme sports. Freediving, in particular, stands out as one of the riskiest disciplines one can train for.
For those unfamiliar, freediving involves descending to great ocean depths, often several hundred feet, until the pressure becomes nearly unbearable.
While many divers rely on oxygen tanks, some have honed their breath control to the extent that they can remain underwater without additional oxygen.
Vitomir Maričić from Croatia secured a Guinness World Record by holding his breath far beyond what most would consider possible.
On June 14, he immersed himself in a pool, staying submerged for an astonishing 29 minutes and 3 seconds. His achievement surpassed the previous record by nearly five minutes and is almost twice the duration a bottlenose dolphin can remain underwater without surfacing.
It’s as if he’s become part of the ocean himself.
The sheer magnitude of his accomplishment left people online astounded and amazed.
One comment read: “yoo this is literally insane.”
Another remarked: “That’s absolutely mind blowing.”
Someone else added: “This dude is the real Aqua man.”
Earlier, Aleix Segura from Spain held the breath-holding record for over 24 minutes in 2016.
Maričić’s achievement was aided by breathing pure oxygen for ten minutes before the dive. This process enriched his blood with oxygen, allowing him to endure the dive more effectively.
According to Maričić’s Instagram, he began his dive with around five times the amount of oxygen in his system than a typical person would have.
Even without extra oxygen assistance, he boasts the ability to hold his breath for ten minutes underwater, a feat that is extraordinary. Most of us panic as soon as we submerge our heads.
For unaided breath-holding, Serbian freediver Branko Petrovic holds the longest time, with a record of 11 minutes and 35 seconds in 2014.
If you’re considering trying this yourself, be cautious. The danger might not lie in holding your breath but in the resurfacing.
Nicholas Mevoli was passionate about freediving, a sport highlighted in Netflix’s documentary The Deepest Breath. Though he worked in television, he pursued freediving as a hobby and became the first American to dive to 100 meters without supplemental air.
Tragically, in 2013, one of his competitive dives in the Bahamas went wrong as he attempted to set a new record.
Attempting a 72-meter dive, he resurfaced after three minutes and 38 seconds, signaling that he was okay.
However, Mevoli, at the age of 32, suddenly lost consciousness and passed away due to a ‘pulmonary hemorrhage caused by barotrauma,’ a result of pressure changes experienced while resurfacing.