Imagine holding your breath underwater for over 29 minutes, without breathing or moving. That's precisely what 40-year-old Croatian freediver Vitomir Marisic accomplished. He smashed the Guinness World Record by submerging underwater for 29 minutes and 3 seconds, nearly 5 minutes longer than the previous record.
In a small hotel pool, Marisic lay face-down while his doctor and friends watched with concern. 'It was the toughest moment of my life,' says Marisic. 'The pain was so intense that I almost felt like giving up. But I didn’t.'
An extraordinary site in Opatija's hotel pool witnessed this feat. Before diving, Marisic took deep breaths of pure oxygen for 10 minutes to infuse his blood with extra oxygen. Then, he submerged with his face down and body unmoving. His body trembled as if convulsed by pain, and his mind wavered.
Marisic recounts, 'Everything seemed challenging. I felt detached, like I wasn’t there. I pondered stopping but the thought of victory kept me going. When I surfaced, applause erupted. The record stood at 29 minutes 3 seconds, 4 minutes and 58 seconds more than the previous record.'
Dr. Igor Barkovich, a hyperbaric medicine expert, said, 'This is groundbreaking for modern medicine. We had no idea humans could survive this long without oxygen. This sets a new horizon for medical help in respiratory diseases.'
Source: aajtak
Freediving involves submersion without breathing equipment. Marisic and his peers transform it into a sport. Pre-dive, he used 'hyperoxia' by inhaling pure oxygen, saturating his blood. Yet, underwater pressure increases, making breath retention tough. This triggers the 'mammalian diving reflex,' with a slowed heart rate conserving oxygen.
Marisic explains, 'As soon as you dive, your mind enters a zone where you let go of all worries. Even beginners learn where to focus in early courses. I’ve been competitively freediving for 9 years, holding multiple international rankings and Croatia's national records.'
Source: aajtak
Not stopping at this record, Marisic now sets his sights on breaking Russia's Alexey Molchanov's benchmark in variable weight freediving at 156 meters (512 feet). Aspiring to achieve 160 meters within two years, he says from Rijeka's pool, 'Every time I think I’ve accomplished it all, a new door opens. Pressure and fitness challenges remain.'
The head of the Croatian AIDA branch, Marisic has faced rivalries in his sport. Rival bodies once accused him falsely, but he cleared his name with doping tests. 'I never give up,' he insists.
Growing up by Croatia's coast, Marisic was bound to the sea by age three, diving into the Adriatic since childhood. A high-performance sports enthusiast, he notes the sea has transformed since then. His childhood sea now stands threatened by increasing pollution and dying biodiversity.
As an ambassador for Sea Shepherd, a marine conservation organization, Marisic warns, 'If we don't act now, the future looks bleak. Significant changes will emerge not in 50-100 years, but in the next decade. We must protect marine life now.'
Vitomir Marisic's story exemplifies human endurance limits. Amid pain, fear, and exhaustion, victory is achievable. Doctors acknowledge this record might revolutionize medicine. Not only breaking records, Marisic also advocates for marine conservation. In his next dive, he’s aiming for 160 meters - let’s watch the marvel unfold.
