A Croatian freediver has set a new world record by holding his breath underwater for an astonishing 29 minutes and 3 seconds.
Laid out on his back, hands behind his head, Vitomir Maričić held his breath for a staggering 29 minutes and three seconds in the bottom of a three-metre-deep hotel pool.
The Croatian freediver, who already holds multiple records, surpassed the previous record for “the longest breath held voluntarily under water using oxygen” by nearly five minutes.
While the average person can hold their breath for just a few seconds or minutes, trained professionals—known as freedivers—can stay underwater for as long as 30 minutes.
The previous record, set by fellow Croatian Budimir Šobat in 2021 also utilised oxygen pre-breathing, in which a diver inhales 100-percent oxygen for a period of time before diving. By nearly quintupling the amount of oxygen in each breath, divers can dramatically delay the buildup of carbon dioxide that drives the urge to take a breath. Around 15 minutes of pre-breathing can extend breath hold to nearly 20 minutes without blood oxygen dipping below normal levels.
The world records for static apnea – underwater breath-hold on air, which is just 21-percent oxygen – are held by Frenchman Stéphanie Mifsud (11min 35sec) for the international freedivers association AIDA and Serbian Branko Petrović (11min 54sec) for Guinness. Maricic’s AIDA static apnea best is just 10 minutes eight seconds – short of the records, but far better than the rest of us can manage, with the average person only able to hold their breath for between 30 and 90 seconds.
Such accomplishments are the result of rigorous physical and mental training. This includes diaphragmatic breathing, cardiovascular conditioning, and meditation.
Maričić, an experienced freediver, completed the record-breaking attempt using oxygen beforehand, and now holds the longest time for breath-holding underwater.
Courtesy: SAMAA, The Macao News
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
